Pakistan faces 25% shortage of water in summer

Pakistan is facing a severe water crisis threat this summer as in April and May there's a looming concern of up to 25% water shortage.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the officials of the Indus River Systems Authority (IRSA) have raised alarms regarding water availability and distribution to provinces this year and called an urgent meeting of the Irrigation Advisory Committee on April 2nd.

The committee meeting will be chaired by the IRSA chairman in which the four provincial ministers of irrigation, officials of WAPDA, and the Meteorological Department will participate.

The sources said if there's no rainfall in June, reservoir levels in Tarbela Dam and Mangla Dam could deplete significantly.

Due to the slow melting of snow, water reserves stand at three million acre-feet in Tarbela Dam and one million acre-feet in Mangla while the discharge from dams is at 95,000 cusecs and river flow remains at 70,000 cusecs. At Marala, river flow is recorded at 14,000 cusecs.

The sources said the irrigation advisory committee meeting will assess water availability and distribution in rivers. The committee will also review the Tarbela Dam extension project.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani