Sindh, Balochistan agree to increase water supplies, pursue long-term cooperation

Sindh and Balochistan have agreed to increase water supplies and pursue long-term cooperation over inter-provincial distribution, with Sindh committing to maintain around 9,000 cusecs through the Pat Feeder Canal.

As per media reports, the agreement was reached during talks between Sindh authorities and a Balochistan delegation led by Balochistan Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani, accompanied by provincial ministers Saleem Ahmed Khosa and Muhammad Khan Lehri.

Umrani said water shortages had placed standing crops and the livelihoods of farming families at risk, adding that Balochistan must receive its constitutional and agreed share without delay.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said Sindh would cooperate to stabilise supplies despite facing regulatory challenges at the federal level. He said approximately 9,000 cusecs would be maintained through the Pat Feeder Canal to protect crops in line with the 1991 Water Accord.

The talks followed weeks of protests by farmers in the Kirthar Canal command area, where communities warned that inadequate irrigation supplies could destroy standing crops and cause severe financial losses.

The Balochistan government had also been considering legal action against Sindh over the alleged unfair distribution of canal water after repeated contacts with the Sindh chief minister and other authorities failed to secure the province’s approved share, according to some reports. 

Pat Feeder Canal Superintending Engineer Mudassar Khoso had said Balochistan was receiving 46% less water than its allocation despite improved availability reported by the Indus River System Authority.

According to Khoso, the province was receiving 0.365 million acre-feet against its allocated 0.678 million acre-feet, leaving a shortfall of 0.310 million acre-feet.

At RD-109, Balochistan was receiving 4,096 cusecs against a requirement of 6,700 cusecs. At RD-102, supplies stood at 1,050 cusecs compared with a demand of 2,400 cusecs.

Khoso said he had previously sought a review of Balochistan’s water flows but received a response that did not conform to official procedures and administrative ethics.