THATTA: Local people blocked the National Highway and staged protest sit-in against the water shortage in Thatta on Thursday.

Protesters chanted slogans against scarcity of water in the district. They said canals had dried and water was unavailable for drinking as well as for irrigation of crops. Riaz Shah Sheerazi, a special assistant to Sindh chief minister, held talks with the protesters following which they ended their protest and allowed vehicular traffic on the highway after assurance from the government official.

Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah earlier directed the irrigation minister to hold talks with protesters to resolve the problem. He also urged the minister to take steps to address scarcity of agriculture water in Thatta. Sindh as a whole was facing water shortage, said the chief minister.

Moreover, Sindh’s information minister Sharjeel Memon has appealed the federal government to provide Sindh’s share of irrigation water. He called the federal authorities to take notice of the shortage of water in Sindh.