Provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani has said that continuous coordination is underway between the irrigation departments of Sindh and Balochistan to provide safe passage to floodwaters coming from Punjab.
He added that a strategy is being devised to protect the people of Usta Muhammad, Sohbatpur, and Jaffarabad districts from possible flooding.
A meeting, chaired by Minister Umrani at the Commissioner’s Office in Naseerabad, reviewed emergency measures to deal with potential threats. Officials briefed the minister that water released by India, combined with flood flows entering the Indus River, has increased the risk of flooding in Naseerabad Division.
Guddu Barrage has the capacity to handle up to 1.2 million cusecs of water, but the possibility of floodwaters entering parts of Balochistan remains. The meeting was attended by the Secretary Irrigation, DG PDMA Balochistan, Commissioner Naseerabad Salahuddin Noorzei, and deputy commissioners of concerned districts.
Authorities were directed to prioritize the protection of lives and property in case of any emergency. Minister Umrani reiterated that precautionary measures are being taken to safeguard Usta Muhammad, Sohbatpur, and Jaffarabad. He further said that Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti is also in contact with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah regarding the situation.
