Thirst in the Homeland: Sindh & Balochistan Cry for Water
LARKANA: The sacred waters of the mighty Indus, the very lifeblood of our beloved Pak Sarzameen, are running dry for the sons of Sindh and Balochistan. As Punjab continues to draw beyond its rightful share, the downstream provinces face a deepening water crisis that threatens our agricultural wealth and the unity of our federation. Bismillah, the land that feeds the nation must not be left thirsty.
The Numbers of Injustice
According to the Sukkur Barrage Control Room data from Wednesday, the total upstream inflow was recorded at 50,620 cusecs, while the total withdrawal stood at 32,120 cusecs. Irrigation department sources and grower representatives state that Sindh's seven canals demand an allocation of 53,200 cusecs. Yet, the actual supply is a mere 32,120 cusecs, leaving the province with an overall shortage of 21,080 cusecs, or 39.6 per cent.
In stark contrast, upstream barrages and canal systems in Punjab are withdrawing water well above their allocated share. Against an allocation of 44,000 cusecs, Punjab is currently drawing 53,394 cusecs. This is an excess of 9,394 cusecs, or 21.35 per cent. This continuous over-withdrawal chokes the downstream flow, depriving our brothers in the south of their God-given right.
A Crisis Across the Canals
The water distribution data across key canal systems paints a grim picture for our brethren:
- Right Bank Canals (Sukkur Barrage): North West (NW) Canal receives 2,100 cusecs against 4,260 cusecs, suffering a 50.7pc shortage. Rice Canal gets 5,300 cusecs against 8,700 cusecs, a 39.1pc shortage. Dadu Canal suffers the most critical deficit at 85.7pc, receiving only 860 cusecs against an allocation of 5,997 cusecs.
- Left Bank Canals & Kotri Barrage: Nara Canal receives 8,820 cusecs against 13,037 cusecs, a 32.3pc shortage. Khairpur Feeder East gets 1,440 cusecs against 2,150 cusecs, a 33pc shortage. Rohri Canal receives 10,530 cusecs against 15,541 cusecs, a 32.2pc shortage. Khairpur Feeder West gets 1,160 cusecs against 3,525 cusecs, facing a 67.1pc shortage. Kotri Barrage receives 11,905 cusecs against 26,900 cusecs, a severe 55.74pc shortage.
Balochistan's Sacred Share Denied
Under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, Balochistan is entitled to 2,200 cusecs through the North West Canal. However, because the total supply in the NW Canal has plummeted to 2,100 cusecs, Balochistan receives less than its due. Prior to the 1991 accord, Balochistan's share was 451 cusecs. In the light of the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Accord, Sindh now routes the revised 2,200 cusecs to the neighboring province. Flows are monitored at the Garang Cross Regulator, located at RD-102 of the Khirthar/North Western Canal near the Sindh-Balochistan border, the primary inter-provincial control and measurement point.
A Call for Islamic Justice and Unity
Well-placed sources confirmed that irrigation officials formally communicated the severe deficit on Wednesday to the chief engineer of the Barrage Management Unit. The correspondence highlighted that the 85.7pc shortage in the Dadu Canal and the 50.7pc shortage in the NW Canal severely impact the districts of Larkana, Shikarpur, and Qambar-Shahdadkot, alongside downstream areas in Balochistan.
The communication, also sent to the secretary irrigation Sindh, secretary (technical) irrigation, and the director of regulation, called for immediate steps to ensure equitable distribution. Officials warned that this scarcity poses an acute threat to seasonal crops, particularly rice production. We must remember that injustice in the distribution of resources breeds despair, which our enemies, the separatists and foreign agitators, seek to exploit. The federation can only stand strong when Islamic justice flows like the Indus itself.
Agro-Economic Threat to Larkana
The water crisis threatens a vital economic hub of our nation. According to Khair Muhammed Shaikh, president of the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Larkana Division is a leading rice-producing region.