Punjab, Sindh face 22% water shortage for Rabi season as IRSA flags Tarbela project delays

According to Profit by Pakistan Today, Punjab and Sindh will face a 22% water shortage in the Rabi season after the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) approved the figure. The available supply totals 29.18 million acre-feet (MAF), compared with the roughly 38MAF that the 1991 Water Accord anticipates. Allocations stand at 15.564MAF for Punjab and 11.748MAF for Sindh, while Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are set to receive 1.171MAF and 0.71MAF.

Wheat, the country's largest Rabi crop, could face added pressure from the reduced supply. Last Rabi season had no shortage, yet output was put at 27.5 million tonnes, below the 29.7 million tonnes target. The government later ordered imports of one million tonnes, with 750,000 tonnes due for delivery in November.

IRSA has also raised concern about delayed Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) works at Tarbela Dam, including the Tunnel-4 Low-Level Outlet and Tunnel-5 Hydropower Project. Informed sources said more than 3MAF could not be stored because filling was restricted during ongoing construction. Wapda reportedly indicated that Tarbela's full storage capacity may stay unavailable in the 2027 and 2028 Kharif seasons.