QUETTA: Sindh will ensure a proper water supply from the Indus River to Balochistan as per its due share and conduct third-party analysis to ensure transparency.

This was agreed upon during a meeting between Balochistan Health Minister Sardarzada Faisal Khan Jamali and Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, who visited the Sukkur Barrage on Sunday to discuss the water shortage in Balochistan.

Balochistan, which is mostly arid, depends upon Sindh to meet its water needs from human consumption and irrigation.

The main watercourse connecting the two provinces is the Kirthar Canal, which originates from the Indus River at Sukkur Barrage and supplies water to many districts of Balochistan.

Irrigation minister says govt will take steps to address water shortage in Kirthar Canal

During the visit, the ministers were briefed by Sukkur Barrage Chief Engineer Mansoor Memon about the water supply situation.

Mr Jamali said water shortages in the Kirthar Canal was causing difficulties for Balochistan’s farmers.

If Balochistan receives its rightful share of water from the Kirthar Canal, a vast area can be irrigated, which would benefit farmers, the Balochistan minister said.

Mr Shoro, Sindh’s irrigation minister, assured the farmers’ representatives that Balochistan would receive its rightful share of water.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced by farmers in the Nasirabad division due to water shortages in the Kirthar Canal and assured that the Sindh government would take all possible measures to address their problems.

Separately, former senator Sana Jan Jamali has also said that the only canal irrigating agricultural lands in the Nasirabad division gets water from the Indus River through Kirthar and Pat Feeder canals.

But, in the current season, Nasirabad division has not not received its due share of water from the Indus river, which has affected the rice crop, the former lawmaker said in a statement.

She said that the Indus River System Authority — which regulates water supply among the provinces — has also stated on record that the Kirthar Canal was only getting one-third of its water share from the Sukkur Barrage. Ms Jamali also claimed that the Pat Fadder was also not receiving its share from Guddu Barrage.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2024