KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday appealed to the federal government to take notice of acute water shortage in Sindh province as it has reached to an alarming level.

In a statement issued here today, he stated that even people of province were facing severe shortage of drinking water. He urged the federal government to ensure judicious distribution of water among the federating units according to the 1991 Water Accord. Mr Sharjeel said that the growers and farmers were protesting as production of crops had been severally affected due to water scarcity and farmers were unable to bear the expenditures of fertilizers and other inputs.

The provincial minister said that Sindh had an important role in the agricultural economy of the country. “The country’s economy is already facing challenges, and if paucity of water persists, economic challenges of country could get even worse.” The provincial minister appealed to the federal government to ensure water releases to Sindh under the 1991 agreement and due to depletion of water reserves in the country, the shortage should be distributed among the provinces under said water formula.