The water dispute between Pakistan’s provinces of Sindh and Balochistan intensified as three Balochistan ministers joined a farmers’ protest at Sukkur Barrage. They accused Sindh of diverting Balochistan’s allocated water share, leading to financial stress for farmers due to prolonged shortages. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti formed a committee to address water concerns with the Sindh government, emphasizing the need to ensure Balochistan’s water share under the 1991 Water Accord.
Farmers from Larkana division and Balochistan protested alleged water shortages, highlighting the impact on crucial crop sowing periods in Balochistan. The committee, led by Balochistan ministers, rejected Sindh Irrigation officials’ claims that Balochistan was receiving more water than allocated. They called for a permanent solution to the issue to prevent annual protests over water shortages.
A report earlier this year warned of a water crisis in Balochistan, coupled with a demographic explosion that could strain the province’s fragile ecology. The population of Balochistan has surged to 14.89 million, with projections indicating a potential increase to over 35 million by 2050. Balochistan’s heavy reliance on groundwater, with 95% of farmland dependent on it, poses a significant challenge as the water table diminishes, exacerbating the region’s water scarcity.
