Quetta, July 23: The city of Quetta in Pakistan is currently grappling with a severe water crisis. According to local media reports on Wednesday, the groundwater levels have plummeted, and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has either completely halted or significantly reduced the water supply in several areas.
Residents in neighborhoods such as Saryab, Sarki Road, Samungli Road, Jinnah Town, Kambarani Road, Satellite Town, Subjal Road, and Khayaban-e-Agha are facing a critical shortage of water. The situation has forced elderly individuals, women, and children to walk long distances to fetch water.
Many households in Quetta have not received tap water for the past six months, severely impacting daily life. Locals told The Express Tribune that they regularly pay WASA bills but still do not receive water. Despite numerous complaints, no solutions have been provided, and officials have only offered reassurances.
On July 18, tensions escalated between the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan over water disputes. Three ministers from Balochistan participated in a farmers’ protest at Sukkur Barrage, alleging that Sindh is diverting water meant for Balochistan. They stated that the prolonged water shortage has caused significant economic hardships for farmers.
The ministers have urged the Sindh government to take action against unauthorized routes that allow water to be siphoned off to Sindh. Farmers from several areas in the Larkana Division have also joined Balochistan farmers in protesting against the water scarcity.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has formed a committee to discuss the issue with the Sindh government. This committee includes ministers Mohammad Sadiq Umrani, Saleem Ahmed Khoso, and Mohammad Khan Lehri.
Addressing the protesters, Mohammad Sadiq Umrani emphasized that Balochistan must receive its full water share as per the 1991 water agreement. He noted that the province is not receiving its entitled 2,400 cusecs from the Kirthar Canal and 6,700 cusecs from the Pat feeder canal.
Umrani highlighted that due to the water shortage, Balochistan’s farmers are unable to irrigate their crops during the critical planting season, risking severe economic losses. The Express Tribune reports that this could have dire consequences for agriculture.
Saleem Ahmed Khoso stated that officials from Sindh’s irrigation department claim Balochistan is receiving more water than its share, but the committee has dismissed this assertion. He insisted that the ground realities clearly indicate a significant water shortage. Khoso expressed that Balochistan seeks a permanent solution to this issue to avoid annual protests.
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