ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has asked the provincial governments to convey their requirements for the coming crop so that water availability forecasts and distribution plans for the next season may be finalised by Sept 25.

Sources told Dawn on Thursday that Irsa had issued notices to the provincial governments and other stakeholders for a meeting of the authority’s technical committee on Sept 25. The Rabi season begins in October and lasts till April. Wheat, gram, lentil, tobacco, rapeseed, barley and mustard are Rabi crops.