QUETTA: On Wednesday, the irrigation ministers of Balochistan and Sindh jointly opposed proposed federal amendments to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) Act, arguing that such changes would breach the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The proposed amendments, which have not yet been introduced in parliament, have caused friction between the PML-N and PPP—two key allies—reigniting tensions since the February 8 general elections. Minister for Water Resources Musadik Malik assured PPP lawmakers on Tuesday that the government would not advance any legislation unfavorable to a province.
At a press conference following an inter-provincial meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Balochistan Irrigation Minister Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umrani and Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro expressed their strong opposition. The Sindh Assembly had already passed a unanimous resolution rejecting the amendments, and a similar resolution will be introduced in the Balochistan Assembly.
“The Balochistan Assembly will support the Sindh government’s stance on this issue, as it adversely affects both provinces,” Umrani said.
The ministers stressed the importance of resolving water-sharing disputes through dialogue. They noted that under PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s direction, the meeting was convened to address water issues between Sindh and Balochistan, with both provinces holding a unified position on the Irsa Act.
Shoro criticized the federal government’s proposed changes, claiming they undermine the 18th Amendment by eroding provincial autonomy and altering the balance of water distribution. He pointed out that the Irsa Act was designed to ensure fair water allocation among provinces, but the proposed changes threaten this balance.
The current proposal includes appointing a grade 21-22 officer as the Irsa chairperson, which Shoro argued would dismantle the Irsa agreement and shift control to bureaucrats.
In response to ongoing disputes, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has established a committee to address water distribution issues between Sindh and Balochistan and to resolve outstanding dues. The committee will include irrigation secretaries from both provinces and Irsa members and will draft recommendations based on a final review.
Irrigation Minister Umrani highlighted the joint nature of these water issues and the committee’s role in resolving them and addressing pending dues.
