Canal Water Shortage Sparks Widespread Protests in Jaffarabad, Demonstrators Demand Immediate Water Supply to Tail-End Areas

Independent Report
JAFFARABAD (By Aziz Marri)
Protests against the worsening canal water shortage intensified across Jaffarabad on Friday, with a sit-in continuing at Dera Allah Yar Zero Point and demonstrations spreading to several parts of the district. Protesters burned tyres, chanted slogans against the Irrigation Department, and demanded the immediate and equitable supply of canal water to tail-end areas.
The main protest is being led by Balochistan Assembly member Engineer Abdul Majeed Badini and is being attended by leaders of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), the National Party, farmers, and local residents.
Demonstrators said the acute water shortage has threatened the ongoing rice cultivation season, leaving agricultural land dry and exposing farmers to significant financial losses. They also claimed that the scarcity has created a severe drinking water crisis, forcing women and children to travel long distances to fetch water, while livestock are also being affected.
During the protests, participants raised slogans against the provincial Irrigation Department and Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani, with some demanding his removal. They warned that if water is not supplied to all canal tail-end areas on an urgent and fair basis, the protest movement will be expanded and major highways could be blocked.
At the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the Irrigation Department or Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani.