KARACHI: The Sindh Government has demanded that the federal government and Irsa immediately restore downstream water releases from Chashma according to Sindh’s indent, and halt operations of the CJ and TP link canals.
Provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro reaffirmed Sindh’s commitment to protect its water rights and defending the livelihoods of millions of farmers, vowing to continue protests at all constitutional, legal, and democratic forums.
Expressing deep concern over water shortages and violations of the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord by Irsa, he demanded immediate restoration of Sindh’s water supply. He emphasised that depriving Sindh’s farmers of their rightful share of water is sheer injustice.
He stated that despite more than 4.019 million acre-feet (MAF) of water available in reservoirs like Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma, IRSA has cut Sindh’s water flows.
During the early Kharif season of 2026, IRSA has failed to meet Sindh’s indented water demand in May and continues to do so. Between June 6 and June 10, Sindh’s legitimate demand of 145,000 cusecs was reduced to only 120,000 cusecs downstream from Chashma, resulting in a 40 percent shortfall in the first ten days of June.
Shoro clarified that the temporary surplus water received at Sindh’s barrages in April due to unusual rains was wrongly counted against Sindh’s share, creating an artificial shortage in the Kharif season. He noted that while Sindh’s barrages face severe shortages, the Chashma-Jhelum (CJ) and Taunsa-Punjnad (TP) link canals are being operated near full capacity (16,500 cusecs and 10,816 cusecs respectively), diverting Indus River flows toward Punjab’s tributaries.
He said official figures show Sindh’s barrages are receiving only 64,093 cusecs against an allocated quota of 106,340 cusecs — a 40 percent deficit.
He said Guddu Barrage is receiving 20,518 cusecs against its quota of 28,340 cusecs (28 percent shortfall). Sukkur Barrage is receiving 32,120 cusecs against 51,100 cusec quota (37 percent shortfall). However, Kotri Barrage is receiving 11,455 cusecs against 26,900 cusecs quota (57 percent shortfall).
He said by contrast, Punjab is receiving 98,812 cusecs against its quota of 109,100 cusecs — only a 9 percent shortfall.
Shoro warned that this situation threatens millions of acres of farmland in Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, and parts of Balochistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026