Punjab, Sindh face cut in irri water for Kharif

KARACHI - Anticipating more than 30 per cent shortage in the availability of water in the country for the coming crops season, the Indus River System Authority in Pakistan has reduced the share of water of Punjab and Sindh provinces for the next crops.

According to the IRSA’s estimate the country would have 24 million acre feet of water for the coming ‘Rabi’ season crops against the average requirement of 35 million acre feet. The next season’s major cash crops are wheat and sugarcane.

Chairman Indus River System Authority Bashir Dahr told The Nation the Punjab province would get 13.3 million acre feet of water for wheat, sugarcane and other seasonal crops against its share of 18.87 million acre feet while the Sindh province would receive 9.871 MAF against its share of 14.82 MAF.