CM demands to implement 2000 water accord to distribute water judiciously

Staff Correspondent
SUKKUR: Expressing concerns over water distribution, the Sindh CM said water was not being distributed judiciously, adding that if there was a water shortage, naturally then it should judiciously be distributed all over the country. Murad Ali Shah said the inter-provincial water agreement was not being implemented since 2000 and the water situation is turning critical. CM said he had requested PM to convene a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), adding that the 1991 Water Accord should be implemented in letter and spirit.
He said Imran Khan’s narrative harmed the country’s interests, adding that the former prime minister had made all institutions controversial. He said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would take all possible efforts to establish good relations with all the countries, adding: “Our foreign policy would not be like that of the previous government, due to which the relations with foreign countries deteriorated.”
CM also ordered officials to must improve their overall performance by ushering in the best professional practices in its entire system right from administration to water distribution in over in the province.
He was talking to the media persons along with Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Saturday during his visit to Sukkur Barrage to review the water situation, where he was briefed by the irrigation department officials.
Sindh is facing shortage of irrigation water as recently local people blocked the National Highway and staged protest sit-in over the water issue in Thatta. “The canals are dry and water is unavailable for irrigation of crops as well as for drinking,” protesters complained. The water shortage has affected agriculture crops and fruit orchards. The farmers are anxious how to meet production costs of crops.