ISLAMABAD: The dispute between Sindh and Balochistan over installation points of the long-delayed telemetry system has deepened, after Sindh’s focal person boycotted a crucial meeting of the Project Steering Committee held at the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) last week, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
The absence of Sindh’s representative, Special Secretary Irrigation (Technical) Sajid Ali Bhutto, at a forum specifically tasked with resolving inter-provincial issues, has raised fresh questions about coordination and trust among water-sharing stakeholders.
Tensions between the two provinces resurfaced publicly during a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources. While briefing the committee on the Rs 24 billion telemetry system— intended to provide real-time monitoring across the Indus Basin— Balochistan’s Irrigation Secretary, Sohail-ur-Rehman Baloch, and Sindh’s representative exchanged sharply divergent views.
Sindh-Balochistan row erupts over telemetry project
Sindh has approved installation of telemetry equipment at seven locations: (i) Guddu; (ii) Sukkur; (iii) Kotri; (iv) Pat Feeder RD-109; (v) Kirthar Canal RD-103; (vi) Uch; and (vii) Manuthy.
However, Balochistan insists these sites do not capture the actual points where water is released into the province. Its Irrigation Secretary claimed that excessive pumping along a 10-kilometre stretch of the Indus reduces Balochistan’s share, rendering the current installation design meaningless. “We want telemetry at the exact release points within our boundary. Without that, the project is futile for Balochistan,” he asserted.
Sindh’s focal person countered that these objections were raised only months ago— despite three years of discussions during PC-I formulation. He argued the project’s purpose is to create basin-wide transparency, not renegotiate provincial boundaries or river operations. He added that the dispute over three sites surfaced only recently during an IRSA meeting, where some officials echoed Balochistan’s concerns.
To cool tempers, Chairman WAPDA reminded the committee that the PC-I had already been approved and physical execution was in progress. He nonetheless assured Balochistan that their reservations would be formally reviewed. “No decision will be taken without taking all federating units into confidence,” he said, adding that real-time telemetry data would help curb canal-side pilferage and ensure verifiable distribution.
Chairman IRSA Amjad Saeed agreed that the Steering Committee remains the appropriate platform to settle such disputes, the sources said, adding that he wants to resolve the issue with the consensus of all the concerned parties as the project is meant to maintain transparency in water distribution and remove concerns of federating units.
WAPDA officials separately updated the committee on Phase-I and Phase-II of the project, while the Secretary Water Resources acknowledged severe variations in water levels across locations and admitted that Pakistan suffers from chronic gaps in reliable water-level data—precisely what the telemetry project aims to address.
According to sources, last week’s Project Steering Committee meeting reviewed Balochistan’s concerns in detail. But proceedings remained inconclusive due to the absence of Sindh’s focal person, who, sources claimed, “even switched off his phone to avoid the meeting.”
To prevent a further breakdown in coordination, the Steering Committee has now decided to convene its next meeting in Karachi to ensure Sindh’s participation and seek an amicable resolution between the two provinces.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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