Inter-provincial distribution of water: government urged to convene meeting to develop consensus

Pakistan Mutthida Kisan Mahaz (PMKM), Balochistan Zamindar Action Committee and Sindh Abadgar Board have urged the government of Pakistan to immediately convene a joint conference of Irrigation Ministers and Secretaries of all the four provinces, Irsa officials and members of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to adopt a national policy on inter-provincial distribution of water.
In a joint statement issued here Tuesday, PMKM Chief Ayub Khan Mayo, General Secretary Balochistan Zamindar Action Committee Haji Abdur Rehman and Secretary General Sindh Abadgar Board Umer Farooque said that organisations working for safeguarding the interests of growers should also be invited to participate in such a conference.
They said that deliberations and a consensus policy drafted at such an event would help avoiding any conflict or problems in future on distribution of water within the country. The growers also urged the President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to amend the 1991 accord as required water was not available in Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh due to weather pattern changes.
They also said that real issue was to pay attention towards the Indian water aggression. They said that India was utilising Pakistan's share of water and whole nation should rise against it so as growers could have full water share from Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh, and our agricultural output does not decline.
They accused that the increase in discharge at Head Marala in Chenab on the occasion of visit of Indian Water Commissioner was a proof that India was stealing Pakistan's water. They said that Pakistani rulers and politicians should exhibit unity against Indian designs of depriving Pakistan of its share in the river waters.