ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: Heated arguments and counter arguments between Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab are expected over their existing irrigation water share when the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) meets here on Wednesday to discuss the water situation.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, Sindh’s Minister for Irrigation and Power,Jam Saifullah Dharajo and Irsa’s members from the four provinces will attend the meeting.

Minister for Privatisation Syed Naveed Qamar and Syed Khurshid Shah have also been invited to attend the meeting to find a solution to address concerns of Sindh, which has been badly hit by the existing 34 per cent shortfall in irrigation water for Rabi.

Sindh has been blaming Punjab for its water woes, while the Balochistan government has already accused Sindh of water theft, seeking Irsa’s intervention to order Sindh to pay Rs13 billion in compensation.

Sindh has been demanding water shortage distribution between provinces under Para (2) B of the Water Accord 1991, which authorises Sindh to get more water than what it is being offered by Punjab.

After the 34 per cent shortfall, now 24.62 million acre feet (MAF) water is being distributed among the provinces for Rabi. Under this formula, Punjab would receive 13.03 MAF, Sindh 9.87 MAF, Balochistan 1.02 MAF and NWFP 0.70 MAF for the Rabi.