Sindh Government Warns of Severe Water Shortage as Mangla and Tarbela Dams Face Depletion
The Sindh Government’s Irrigation Department has issued a warning about the potential complete depletion of water in Mangla and Tarbela Dams within the next 4 to 5 days. In an official memorandum, the department raised concerns about severe water scarcity and the looming threat of drought in Sindh, including Karachi.
The memorandum highlighted that the ongoing Rabi season for 2024-25 has witnessed very low rainfall, which has led to dangerously low water reserves. As of March 3, 2025, Tarbela Dam had only 0.102 million acre-feet of water, while Mangla Dam had 0.226 million acre-feet.
The memo further noted that the effects of drought have started becoming evident in cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and others. It cautioned that water shortages could exceed 50% during the remaining days of March and at the start of the upcoming season.
In light of the growing crisis, the memorandum recommended a structured and fair distribution plan for the available water resources to ensure equitable access across the affected areas.
