KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday strongly expressed its serious reservations on the water shortage during the on-going Kharif season, terming it a ‘Sindh-enmity’ attitude. It urged the federal government to address the water shortages between the provinces as per the 1991 Water Accord.

“The crops are turning pale in Sindh and the Irsa has failed to implement the accord,” the members observed.

The cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here at CM House. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah, Advocate General Sindh Salman Talibuddin and other concerned.

At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet members said that due to water shortage, the growers of Sindh are facing serious problems. The cabinet members admitted that there is water shortage in the system, but these shortages must be addressed as per agreed formula in the accord. But this was not being done and an “exclusive favour” is being given to Punjab.

The cabinet also expressed reservation on the on-going anti-encroachment drive launched by Pakistan Railways in different districts, particularly in Sukkur and Rohri. It was observed that the railways authorities are bulldozing houses of poor people under the “pretext” of encroachment.

The cabinet member requested the chief minister to take up both the issues – water shortage and railway’s anti-encroachment drive – with the federal government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021