Sindh government wants compensation for water supply shortfall

Murad Ali Shah discusses CCI agenda before leaving to attend meeting in Islamabad

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to file a compensation case with the federal government against the shortfall of water supplied to Sindh since 1991 when the water accord was signed between the four provinces of Pakistan. This was decided during a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at CM House to discuss the agenda of the Council of Common Interests [CCI] meeting that is due to be held in Islamabad today [Tuesday].

The chief minister said Sindh has been receiving less water than the agreed share under the accord of 1991. As a result, the people of Sindh, particularly the farmers, have suffered a huge loss.



He directed the irrigation department to work out the details of the water received from 1991 to 2017 and calculate the shortfall so that a case could be presented during the CCI meeting. The chief minister also said the federal government was reluctant to hand over the Employees Old Age Benefit [EOBI] and Workers Welfare Board to the provincial governments. The Federal Board of Revenue was still recovering the Workers Welfare Fund, which was illegal and against the spirit of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, he said.

The chief minister, accompanied by Sindh Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, flew to Islamabad to attend the CCI meeting.