Independent Report
QUETTA :
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has taken immediate notice of the worsening irrigation water shortage in Naseerabad Division and held an emergency telephone conversation with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, with both leaders agreeing to adopt a coordinated strategy to address the crisis and ensure equitable water distribution.
The development followed a meeting between Chief Minister Bugti and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Parliamentary Leader in the Balochistan Assembly Mir Saleem Khan Khosa, who apprised him of the severe shortage of irrigation water in the canals of Naseerabad Division and its growing impact on agriculture and farming communities.
According to Balochistan government spokesperson for Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind, the chief minister immediately contacted his Sindh counterpart after receiving the briefing. During the conversation, the two leaders discussed the prevailing water situation, inter-provincial coordination and the fair distribution of water, agreeing to work jointly on both immediate relief measures and a long-term solution.
Shahid Rind said both chief ministers directed their respective irrigation ministers to proceed to Sukkur without delay and convene an emergency meeting with the relevant authorities to review the situation and formulate practical recommendations for improving water availability.
He added that elected members of the Balochistan Assembly representing Naseerabad Division would also participate in the meeting, where matters relating to canal water shortages, the irrigation system and Balochistan’s constitutional share of water would be discussed in detail.
The spokesperson reaffirmed that the provincial government remained committed to protecting the interests of farmers and safeguarding Balochistan’s constitutional and legal water rights. He said close coordination between the governments of Balochistan and Sindh would continue to achieve a sustainable and mutually agreed solution to the ongoing water crisis.
