RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has increased releases to provinces after improvement in water situation in the reservoirs due to snow melting and current spell of rain in hilly areas.

According to Irsa water inflows reached 225,000 cusecs on May 31 from 172,000 cusecs on May 28, showing an improvement of 24 per cent in inflows. On Monday, the water regulator increased the distribution of water to provinces. Water releases rose to 101,000 cusecs from 83,000 cusecs for Punjab and 109,000 from 74000 cusecs for Sindh. The political leadership of both provinces is accusing the other of water theft. Irsa further stated that sharing of water shortage by Punjab and Sindh has been reduced to 18 percent from 32 percent as Balochistan and KP are exempted from shortages.