THATTA: A severe water shortage has gripped the coastal belt of Thatta district, where several tail-end irrigation channels have reportedly remained dry for the past eight months, severely affecting agriculture, livestock and drinking water supplies.

Residents stated that the Darsi, Indo, Khanani, Gharo and Malirri-II distributaries, along with other tail-end channels, had received little to no water. The hard hit areas included Gharo, Baghan, Keti Bandar, Sajjanwari and Thariwari.

They said thousands of acres of farmland had turned barren, inflicting heavy financial losses on farmers and worsening economic hardship across the region.

The prolonged scarcity has also hit livestock, while groundwater has turned increasingly saline, making it difficult for residents to obtain potable water.

Local residents Aziz Lashari, Faiz Sindhi, Ghulam Nabi Samoon and others told journalists that the situation had assumed drought-like proportions, leaving both people and livestock struggling for survival.

The shortage has further accelerated the environmental degradation of the Indus Delta. Diminished freshwater flows combined with seawater intrusion have heightened soil and groundwater salinity, damaged arable land and contributed to the decay of mangroves and fragile coastal ecosystems.

Furthermore, residents accused officials of the Mirpur Sakro irrigation division of financial irregularities.

The residents demanded a transparent inquiry into the alleged irregularities and urged the irrigation authorities to restore water flows to the tail-end channels immediately to prevent further agricultural losses and provide relief to affected communities.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026