Islamabad, PPP’s Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman, raised serious concerns over the proposed amendments to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act of 1991 while moving her Calling Attention Notice. She emphasized, “The proposed changes have sparked significant apprehensions in Sindh. These amendments are a direct attack on the IRSA Act and water distribution rights of lower riparians. This is the third attempt within a year to alter the IRSA Act. The recent proposed revisions infringe upon the rights of the province’s citizens and their access to water resources.”
Senator Rehman highlighted that water scarcity in Sindh is not a new issue. She said, “The province faces the dual challenges of monsoon flooding and drought, with the latter severely affecting agriculture and the lives of the people. Due to upstream projects on the Indus River, the Kotri Barrage experiences a 60 to 70 percent reduction in water flow.”
Sherry Rehman added, “The IRSA Act of 1991 was originally designed to ensure fair water distribution among the provinces, and despite its genuine reservations, Sindh accepted the 1991 IRSA Act. According to the proposed changes, IRSA would be brought under federal control and managed by a federal bureaucrat. However, it functions as a regulatory agency governed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI), as outlined in the second part of the Federal Legislative List. These amendments violate Article 154, which states that ‘The Council of Common Interests shall formulate and regulate policies in relation to matters in Part II of the Federal Legislative List and shall exercise supervision and control over related institutions,’ and Article 155 of the Constitution, which stipulates that water distribution is a matter for the CCI and reads: ‘If the interests of a province, the federal capital, or any of the inhabitants thereof in water from any natural source of supply [or reservoir] have been or are likely to be affected.'”
Senator Rehman noted, “Sindh’s representative in IRSA has expressed clause-by-clause reservations on the proposed amendments, which were introduced without proper consultation with the provinces. Sindh is the home of the Indus River, and these amendments are being pushed through without considering the province’s water deprivation. The Sindh Assembly has already passed a resolution rejecting these changes. Many areas in Sindh are experiencing severe water shortages, making this not just a constitutional issue but one of human survival.”
Addressing misconceptions, Senator Sherry Rehman clarified, “The flow of river water into the sea is not wasted. Globally, hydro-science acknowledges that rivers need to flow into the sea to sustain delta regions. If this flow is blocked, areas like Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, and others in Sindh will face ecological collapse. The lands in these regions have already become barren, saline, and unfit for agriculture.”
Senator Rehman concluded by urging the government not to further alienate Sindh, a province already suffering from water scarcity, and to reconsider the proposed amendments.
