ISLAMABAD:
Concerns over severe water shortages in Sindh and Balochistan sparked a heated debate in the National Assembly on Thursday as PPP lawmakers questioned official water distribution figures and demanded answers on shortages affecting agriculture and irrigation.
The issue surfaced in a notice of appeal filed in the House, in which PPP leaders warned of a worsening water crisis in Sindh.
However, federal minister Moeen Wattoo defended the government’s position and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) data, saying Sindh had received more than its allocated share of water.
Speaking in the House, PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar said Sindh was facing severe water shortage and wondered how farmers could be expected to cultivate without adequate supplies.
“Right now, Sindh is facing severe water shortage,” Qamar said, asking what response could be given to growers if water was not available during the sowing season.
Responding to the call for attention, Federal Minister Moeen Wattoo said IRSA data showed that Sindh had consumed more water than its allocated share, while Balochistan had also received water as per its entitlement.
“According to IRSA, Sindh has used more than its allocated share of water,” Wattoo said. He added that Sindh was currently receiving 140,000 cusecs of water.
The minister’s figures were immediately disputed by PPP lawmakers. Shazia Marri objected to the data and questioned why the telemetry system, intended to improve transparency in water distribution, had still not been installed.
“The federal minister’s figures are not correct,” Marri said, adding that rainwater discharge could not be taken into account in Sindh’s share.
In response, Wattoo said the telemetry system would be completed by 2027 and defended the accuracy of the government’s data. “How can I provide incorrect numbers? »
