Latest news with #WaterApportionmentAccord1991
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Sherpao rejects proposed KP Mines and Minerals Bill
PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025, stating that this controversial bill was against the spirit of the Constitution and the 18th Amendment. Aftab Sherpao stated this while speaking at a meeting of QWP Lower Dir office-bearers at Watan Kor. The party chairman said that some elements were out to capture the resources of the province, adding that QWP would go to any extent to protest against the passage of this controversial legislation. Aftab Sherpao said that the Centre had no right to control the resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Criticizing the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said that they were only interested in securing the release of Imran Khan from jail. However, he maintained that the PTI should follow due legal process instead of indulging in protests and wasting the provincial resources on staging political rallies. He said that law and order had deteriorated to the extent in the southern districts that even the government employees could not travel freely. He said the federal and provincial governments were spending millions of rupees on useless advertisements, adding that this practice should be stopped. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also not getting its due share of water under the Water Apportionment Accord 1991. About the recent increase in remittances, the QWP said that most of the money had been sent by the Pakhtuns working in the Gulf States, which negated Imran Khan's claim of stopping remittances and it served as vote of no confidence against him. Aftab Sherpao said that India made baseless allegations against Pakistan over Pahalgam attack. He said India was trying to divert attention from its security failure in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack by suspending the Indus Water Treaty. He said Pakistan was capable of giving a befitting reply to India in case of any misadventure. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IRSA reaffirms water distribution
The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Wednesday reiterated its decisions regarding water distribution among provinces, stressing that the water apportionment was strictly in accordance with the 1991 Accord. A high-level Irsa meeting chaired by its chairman reviewed the water allocations as well as the letters received from Sindh and Punjab. Sindh had raised serious objections to the water withdrawal from Taunsa-Panjnad (TP) Link Canal. The Sindh government had written a letter to Irsa against the opening of the TP canal, on Wednesday. The government wrote another letter to the regulator, saying that despites its complaint, the water withdrawal had been increased. An Irsa spokesperson said in a press release that the meeting reviewed the distribution of water and the letters of Punjab and Sindh provinces. "Irsa expressed full confidence in all its decisions related to water distribution," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also stated that Irsa "is taking all decisions in accordance with Water Apportionment Accord 1991 and IRSA Act XXII 1992 as per law", adding that the authority reposed full confidence in all its members and chairman. In Karachi, the Sindh government said that another protest letter to the Federation and Irsa had been sent after the withdrawal of water from Indus river system through the TP canal had been increased despite the province's serious objections. Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said that 3,800 cusecs of water was being taken through the TP canal, adding that Punjab was given water from the Indus river, rather than from the Jhelum-Chenab zone. "There is no water for cotton and rice crops in Sindh." And, talking to the media persons at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah severely criticised the Punjab government for opening the TP Link Canal, despite Sindh's objections. "We are currently facing a 50% water shortage. In such a situation, opening the TP Link Canal is a highly irresponsible move. With this Punjab has weakened its own case on the Indus canals, while Sindh's position got stronger," Shah stated. Meanwhile, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that the representatives of the two provinces should sit together to sort out the canals and other issues. "I don't think there will be any problem if we sit down together," the speaker said.
