LAHORE: Punjab irrigation department has officially announced a major restructuring of water rates (abiana) across the province, shifting from a variable canal-based system to a unified flat rate assessment.

The new policy, which takes effect immediately, aims to streamline water tax collections for the agricultural sector, says an official of the department.

Under Section 49, read with Section 136 of the Punjab Irrigation, Drainage and Rivers Act, 2023, the governor has approved the immediate revision of seasonal water rates.

According to the official notification, farmers will now be charged according to a fixed flat rate assessment of Abiana set at Rs1,650 per acre for the Kharif season and Rs850 per acre for the Rabi season.

This executive order officially supersedes the previous notification issued on Dec 5, 2023.

In addition to the standard seasonal crop rates, the provincial government has specified distinct annual charges for specialised irrigation setups.

The notification states that an additional water rate of Rs2,000 per acre per annum will be applied to all sanctioned garden supplies. Agricultural lands utilising state-owned lift irrigation facilities will be subject to an additional rate of Rs2,250 per acre per annum, it adds.

This structural shift transitions the province away from the old, localised system where water rates significantly varied anywhere between Rs165 and Rs385, depending heavily on specific perennial or non-perennial canal systems like those fed by the rivers Jhelum and Chenab, and Pakpattan canals.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026