A critical water crisis endangers Sindh province, as the Irrigation Department has sent a concerning circular indicating that major dams are nearing total depletion within days.
Official papers from the Sindh Irrigation Department indicate that both Mangla and Tarbela dams are projected to deplete entirely within the next 4-5 days, resulting in potentially disastrous conditions throughout the province.
Officials report that the impacts of the drought are already evident in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, and other cities across Sindh.
“The insufficient precipitation in the ongoing Rabi season 2024-25 has resulted in water reserves declining to perilous levels,” declared the department’s circular. As of March 3, 2025, Tarbela Dam holds just 0.102 million acre-feet of water, while Mangla Dam contains only 0.226 million acre-feet.
The document further warns that water shortages could exceed 50 percent for the remainder of March and into the beginning of the next season, significantly impacting agricultural production and drinking water supplies across the region.
Officials have advocated for “a systematic planning approach for equitable distribution of available water” to address the situation, indicating that rationing measures may soon be enacted.
