Lawmakers demanded that Irsa give Sindh its due share of water in the light of the Water Accord of 1991. Photo courtesy Irsa s website/File
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday witnessed a stormy session as ruling Pakistan People Party vehemently condemned the federal government for cutting down Sindh’s water share in violation of the 1991 Water Accord through a strong-worded resolution that was opposed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, saying the PPP created an artificial shortage by favouring its “blue-eyed waderas”.
Major opposition parties in the provincial assembly Grand Democratic Alliance and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan which are coalition partners of the PTI-led federal government, however, supported the resolution tabled by Irrigation Minister Sohail Anwar Sial.
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali on Friday told the Sindh Assembly that the provincial government would consider increasing salaries of government employees in the next budget. APP/File
KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali on Friday told the Sindh Assembly that the provincial government would consider increasing salaries of government employees in the next budget.
Concluding the pre-budget debate, he admitted that the minimum salary of a government employee was not enough for subsistence, but the provincial government had to take a decision in that regard keeping in view its resources.
Mr Shah said that around Rs50 billion was spent for payment of salaries and retired employees’ pension, excluding employees of local government institutions.
As parts of Pakistan ban water-guzzling paddy, one farmer has a solution
Both India and its western neighbour regularly forbid rice cultivation to conserve water and prevent land degradation. Representational image. | Mohsin Raza / Reuters
The season for sowing paddy is about to kick off in Sindh. But the province in southeast Pakistan has banned rice cultivation in 10 districts on the left bank of the Indus river.
This ban is announced every year at the end of April or early May to limit the waterlogging, salinity and drought-like conditions caused by successive rice farming. By some accounts, rice cultivation has been banned in these areas for over 90 years. Similarly, the Indian government bans paddy cultivation in “dark zones” to help water aquifers.