ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan government has asked the Water and Power Regulatory Authority (Wapda) to interfere and regulate water share issues under the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) rules as third party as the Sindh government is denying the legitimate right to Balochistan.

Speaking at a press conference held here on Tuesday, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani urged the Sindh government to ensure the release of due share of water which is being denied in violation of the 1991 Water Accord.

Mr Shahwani said the Sindh government was not releasing full share of water to the province and the Balochistan government would stop water supply to Karachi from Hub dam if the Sindh government not mend its ways.

According to the Irsa agreement, Sindh is responsible to provide full share of water to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the provincial government is not willing to give Balochistan its legitimate share.

He said Sindh was supplying 42 per cent less water to the province for last two months whereas Sindh claims some 17pc of its share was being stolen by Punjab. He said Balochistan’s due right share is 10,900 cusec, including a short fall of 30pc which is 14,000 cusecs, but Sindh is providing 7,000 cusecs water.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2021