The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has approved water allocation for the Cholistan project, marking a significant development in Punjab’s irrigation and water management efforts.

Following the approval, IRSA’s secretary has issued a water availability certificate to the Punjab government, paving the way for the extraction of water from the Sutlej River at Sulemanki Headworks to feed the Cholistan Canal.

According to IRSA officials, a total of 450,000 acre-feet of water will be made available for the project.

However, the decision has sparked opposition, particularly from IRSA’s Sindh representative, Ehsan Laghari, who has formally recorded his dissent.

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Laghari argues that the approval granted by IRSA’s secretary is unfair to Sindh, as it could reduce the water flow in the Indus River.

He further contends that the water earmarked for the Cholistan project is not solely from the Sutlej River, but will also be drawn through link canals from Sulemanki Headworks.