Independent Report
SUKKUR (July 18): Balochistan Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani has reaffirmed that ensuring a steady supply of irrigation water to farmers during the ongoing sowing season is among the provincial government’s foremost priorities, stressing that the province’s constitutional water rights would be safeguarded through every available legal and administrative channel.
The minister expressed these views while speaking to journalists during an emergency visit to the Sukkur Barrage, undertaken on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to monitor the water situation and ensure Balochistan receives its allocated share under the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) water distribution formula.
The delegation was headed by Umrani and included Provincial Minister for Communications and Works Mir Saleem Ahmed Khosa, Parliamentary Secretary for Excise and Taxation and Member of the Provincial Assembly Haji Muhammad Khan Lehri, and Irrigation Secretary Sohail Rehman Baloch. Sukkur Division Commissioner Abid Saleem Qureshi was also present during the visit.
Officials of the Sindh Irrigation Department briefed the delegation on the prevailing water conditions and assured the visiting team that Balochistan’s allocated irrigation share would be released within the next 24 to 48 hours in accordance with the approved distribution mechanism.
Speaking on the occasion, Umrani said the province’s canal network was facing an acute shortage of irrigation water at a crucial phase of the cropping season, making the timely release of water essential to protect standing crops and support the livelihoods of farming communities.
He maintained that even in the event of reduced water availability in the Indus River, the relevant authorities remained constitutionally and legally obligated to ensure Balochistan received its due share in line with IRSA regulations.
The minister emphasized that the provincial government would continue to pursue all constitutional and legal measures to protect Balochistan’s legitimate water entitlements and would not allow any compromise on the rights of its farmers.
Executive Engineer Kirthar Canal Ghulam Muhammad Badini, Sub-Divisional Officers Amanullah Gajani and Haji Mumtaz Ali Soomro also participated in the inspection and briefing session.
