Sindh continues to face a significant water shortage as the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has decided to maintain its policy of equalising water shortages between Punjab and Sindh despite objections from the provincial government.
Read More: IRSA rejects Sindh’s less water supply claim
According to irrigation officials, Sindh has been experiencing an overall water shortage of 22 per cent for the past ten days. The province has formally raised concerns over Irsa’s decision, arguing that excess water received during unusual rainfall events earlier this year should not be deducted from its share under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord.
Irsa Director Operations Khalid Idrees Rana said the authority is adjusting water use and working to equalise shortages between the two provinces until June 10. He noted that river flows remain unsatisfactory compared to the same period last year, although rising temperatures could improve water availability through increased snowmelt in the coming weeks.
Sindh officials maintain that exceptional rainfall in April led to unusually high inflows in the Indus River system, particularly from the Kabul River. They argue that the surplus water was generated by natural conditions and should be treated similarly to flood flows that were shared by provinces in previous years rather than being counted against Sindh’s allocated share.
Irsa, however, has yet to make a final decision on Sindh’s representation. The authority points to significantly lower water inflows at major reservoirs, including Tarbela and Mangla dams, compared to last year. Current inflow figures are considerably below those recorded during the same period in 2025, contributing to the overall shortage across the system.
The shortage has affected irrigation supplies throughout Sindh. Guddu Barrage recorded a 42pc shortfall, while Kotri and Sukkur barrages reported shortages of 29pc and 11pc respectively. Several major canals, particularly those serving rice-growing areas, are receiving reduced supplies as the sowing season begins.
Read More: Irsa Blocks Plan to Drain Half of Tarbela Dam Water Level
Farmers and irrigation experts have also expressed concern over continued water withdrawals through inter-provincial link canals, arguing that the reduced river flows are placing additional pressure on Sindh’s agricultural sector and water resources.