KARACHI: The Sindh government has expressed its deep concern over water shortage and violations of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), demanding immediate restoration of Sindh’s water supply.
Provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro emphasised that depriving Sindh’s farmers of their rightful share of water is sheer injustice.
He stated that despite more than 4.019 million acre-feet (MAF) of water available in reservoirs like Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma, Irsa has cut Sindh’s water flows. During the early Kharif season of 2026, Irsa has failed to meet Sindh’s indented water demand in May and continues to do so.
Between June 6 and June 10, Sindh’s legitimate demand of 145,000 cusecs was reduced to only 120,000 cusecs downstream from Chashma, resulting in a 40pc shortfall in the first 10 days of June.
Minister demands immediate restoration of rightful supplies to millions of growers; gives area-wise data of shortages
Mr Shoro clarified that the temporary surplus water received at Sindh’s barrages in April due to unusual rains was wrongly counted against Sindh’s share, creating an artificial shortage in the Kharif season. He noted that while Sindh’s barrages face severe shortages, the Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) and Taunsa-Punjnad (TP) link canals are being operated in nearly full capacity (16,500 cusecs and 10,816 cusecs, respectively), diverting Indus River flows toward Punjab’s tributaries.
Official figures show Sindh’s barrages are receiving only 64,093 cusecs against an allocated quota of 106,340 cusecs, a 40pc deficit; Guddu Barrage 20,518 cusecs vs 28,340 quota (28pc shortfall); Sukkur Barrage 32,120 cusecs vs 51,100 quota (37pc shortfall) and Kotri Barrage 11,455 cusecs vs 26,900 quota (57pc shortfall).
In contrast, Punjab is receiving 98,812 cusecs against its quota of 109,100 cusecs — only a 9pc shortfall.
Mr Shoro warned that this situation threatens millions of acres of farmland in Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Shikarpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot and parts of Balochistan.
He said Dadu Canal was getting 860 cusecs vs 4,995 quota (83pc shortfall) ; North-Western Canal 2,100 cusecs vs 4,260 quota (51pc shortfall) and Rice Canal 5,300 cusecs vs 8,700 quota (39pc shortfall)
The Sindh government has demanded that the federal government and Irsa immediately restore downstream water releases from Chashma according to Sindh’s indent, and halt the operation of CJ and TP link canals.
The minister reaffirmed Sindh’s commitment to protecting its water rights and defending the livelihoods of millions of farmers, vowing to continue protests at all constitutional, legal and democratic forums.
Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026
