ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: The overall water situation has improved with the shortage reported to have declined to about 18 per cent from 28 per cent estimated last month.

At the start of Rabi season a shortage of 22 per cent had been forecast, but later the Indus River System Authority revised its estimate upward to 28 per cent because of extra releases for power generation.

Irsa spokesman Mohammad Khalid Rana told Dawn on Thursday that the river flows had improved significantly after recent rains and the provinces had been advised to make maximum use of the surplus water to avoid its wastage. These water usages would not be accounted for in the provincial share, he said.

Subsequently, the Punjab has started drawing about 7,000 cusecs from Qadirabad while Sindh has enhanced its indents to 22,000 cusecs from about 8,000 cusecs. Sindh has also informed Irsa that it would start drawing water from Sukkur barrage after the end of its canal closure on January 20.

The total storage at reservoirs has improved to 2.1 million acre feet (MAF) that includes one MAF at Tarbela, 0.8 MAF at Mangla and the remaining at Chashma barrage.