PA opposes changes to IRSA Act

Passes resolution against Centre's plan, terms it against interests of province

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution moved by Nisar Ahmed Khuhro against the federal government's plans to amend the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act.

The government and opposition in Sindh showed agreement on the issue of water, with PPP members stating that the resolution aims to save Pakistan's water, not of Sindh. They warned that any attempt to alter the existing water agreement would be considered a violation of the accord. The opposition also pledged to raise a strong voice with the Sindh government on all issues, including water, and urged the need to provide water to Karachi city as well.

The Sindh Assembly session began with Speaker Owaid Qadir Shah in the chair when senior PPP parliamentarian Nisar Ahmed Khuhro presented the resolution, leading to a debate between the government and the opposition.

The resolution stated that the 1991 IRSA agreement bears the signatures of all provincial chief ministers, and any amendment to the IRSA Act is unacceptable to the people of Sindh. He said that Sindh should be allowed to store its water and expressed sorrow over the province's resources being underutilised. K

huhro expressed concerns that the IRSA Act amendment would adversely impact the Water Accord and reiterated that no changes would be accepted without the consultation with the provinces.

Jam Khan Shoro stated that IRSA's purpose is to implement the water agreement and rejected attempts to end provincial representation. He referenced historical protests against water shortages in Sindh, dating back to 1870. Discussing Karachi's water issues, Shoro mentioned the water shortage at Kotri Barrage since 2012 and maintained that despite not being mentioned in the Water Accord, Karachi still receives water.

PPP's MPA Heer Sohu said that Sindh is the only province facing water shortages, and the water dispute between Sindh and Punjab has persisted since the 1991 agreement. The MPA highlighted that under the agreement, provinces would share equal responsibility for water shortages.

Arbab Lutfullah of the PPP said that the Sindh Assembly had previously passed a resolution on Pakistan's creation, asking what their fault was now. He mentioned that electricity from Tharparkar goes to Faisalabad, but Tharparkar still lacks electricity. Sindh contributes 90 per cent of revenue but its people are forced to drink contaminated water.

Education Minister, Syed Sardar Shah supported the resolution, saying that water has always been a contentious issue throughout history. He mentioned that the Indus Basin has 64,000 canals and the 1991 agreement was approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Water is a provincial matter, not a federal issue.

Najam Mirza of MQM said that provinces too have responsibilities under the agreement, but unfortunately, they have not implemented it, and Karachi has not received its due share of water. No projects have been allocated to Karachi in the last 15 years, and the provincial government is also not implementing the agreement.

Shabbir Qureshi of PTI said that they will all speak for Sindh's water rights, as Sindh belongs to everyone. They will stand against any injustice to Sindh. He mentioned that since the 1991 agreement, less water has been received, resulting in thousands of acres of land in Sindh becoming unusable or barren. Karachi needs 1,260MG of water, but that is not being supplied. Despite PPP being in power for 16 years, he said, the water issue remains unresolved.