Punjab robs water share of Sindh, food insecurity, crop loss worth billion of rupees predicted for Sindh and Balochistan

Indus at Kotri Barrage

Sindh and Balochistan are predicted to face an acute food deficit as well as set backs to agriculture economy this year as Indus River System Authority (IRSA) allying with the Punjab province has stop releasing the water down-stream Indus, which has caused severe water shortage in Sindh and Balochistan. The Punjab violating the Water Accord of 1991, has released the water share of Sindh to Chashma-Jehlam and Tunsa-Panjnad link canals. It has been reported from across Sindh and irrigated parts of Balochistan that almost all water-ways and channels are dried up in both of the provinces, causing crop loses of billions of rupees in Sindh and Balochistan. In such a situation, people from river-side forest land areas directly use the water from Indus, which also seems to be impossible as Indus bed has also dried up. In such a situation, protests against water theft by Punjab through IRSA has been widespread in Sindh that may further sharpen the conflicts between Sindh and Punjab as well as Sindh and Federation. Analysis by Daily Awami Awaz Report