Maps
Magazine

LEGAL

Sindh Protests Indus Water Diversion via Taunsa-Panjnad Canal

Sindh govt urges IRSA to halt Indus water diversion via Taunsa-Panjnad Canal, citing severe shortages. Protests grow over canal projects, corporate farming.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-15
Sindh Protests Indus Water Diversion via Taunsa-Panjnad Canal

The Sindh government has formally written to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), objecting to the transfer of water from the Indus River to the Jhelum-Chenab system via the Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal. The letter, issued by the Director Regulation in Karachi and available with Dawn.com, calls for an immediate halt to the diversion and a fair distribution of water among provinces.

The letter highlighted that the canal is currently operating with a discharge of 2,981 cusecs despite significantly lower inflows in the Indus River system. It noted that during the first 10 days of April, inflows at Indus at Tarbela and Kabul at Nowshera were 21% and 23% below Irsa’s minimum estimates for Kharif 2025. In contrast, inflows at Jhelum at Mangla exceeded projections by 20%.

The Sindh government argued that water availability in the Jhelum-Chenab system is clearly better than in the Indus system, and using link canals to divert water undermines the lower riparian provinces — particularly Sindh.

The province reported experiencing 62% shortages as per the Water Apportionment Accord, and 55% shortages based on historical usage averages from 1977-82. Punjab, in comparison, experienced 54% and 52% shortages respectively.

The letter strongly urged Irsa to release more water to Sindh for the remaining days of April, in line with decisions made by the Irsa Advisory Committee (IAC).

 

Political and Public Opposition Intensifies

The water dispute comes amid rising political and public unrest in Sindh against controversial irrigation projects in Punjab. On February 15, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief Gen Asim Munir inaugurated the Cholistan irrigation project, sparking immediate backlash.

In March, the Sindh Assembly passed a unanimous resolution demanding a halt to six proposed new canals on the Indus until inter-provincial consensus is reached.

Protests have been widespread:

  • In February, Awami Tehreek held a 12-km long protest in Karachi.
  • In March, PPP organized province-wide demonstrations.
  • In April, GDA and PTI staged a sit-in outside Karachi Press Club.
  • On Sunday, the Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee (PKRC) organized protests in 30 cities against corporate farming, canal construction, lack of wheat support pricing, and PASCO’s privatization.

These protests took place in cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Shikarpur, Larkana, Sukkur, Badin, and many others, reflecting a nationwide outcry.
Tagged:

Irsa

WaterCrisis

SindhWaterRights

IndusWaterDispute

TaunsaPanjnad
Share News: