Dried out

According to some media reports, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) warned that the country will face a 43 per cent water shortfall in April 2025. This shortage comes at a critical time, with wheat harvesting underway and preparations beginning for summer crops like cotton, rice, and sugarcane. With reservoir levels critically low, farmers — particularly in Punjab and Sindh, the country’s agricultural heartlands — are bracing for severe irrigation shortages that could threaten yields. It may be added that the country’s key water reservoirs have plunged to critically low levels, hitting dead levels, in a development that poses a serious threat to the country’s agricultural output.

The shortfall poses a significant challenge to farmers, who rely on Indus water for the upcoming sowing season. The Kharif crops, including cotton, rice, and sugarcane, depend on sufficient water supplies, and any shortages could impact agricultural yields. In view of the above, the evolving weather patterns and lower snowmelt require careful monitoring. With climate change intensifying water scarcity, there is a need to implement better conservation strategies and reservoir management to mitigate future crises.

Khan Faraz

Peshawar