The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has announced an overall 8 percent water shortage for the Rabi 2025-26 season, marking the lowest deficit in a decade, following robust inflows and record reservoir levels after an unusually wet Kharif season.
The decision was made during a meeting of the IRSA Advisory Committee (IAC), chaired by Sahibzada Muhammad Shabir at the Authority’s headquarters in Islamabad. The session was attended by IRSA Members, the Chief Engineering Advisor from the Ministry of Water Resources, senior representatives from WAPDA, and secretaries of the Punjab and Sindh irrigation departments.
Officials said the country experienced exceptional monsoon activity during Kharif 2025, which not only caused flooding across major river systems but also significantly enhanced water inflows. According to IRSA, total inflows during Kharif stood at 122.364 million acre-feet (MAF)—18 percent higher than projected, 19 percent above the ten-year average, and 14 percent greater than last year’s figures.
Due to widespread rainfall and flooding, provinces utilized less irrigation water than expected, drawing only 62.394 MAF despite higher allocations and indents. Consequently, IRSA reported that nearly all reservoirs were filled to capacity, with 13.214 MAF in storage as of September 30—equivalent to 99 percent of Pakistan’s total storage potential.
For the upcoming Rabi 2025-26 season, the IAC approved anticipated rim-station inflows of 22.016 MAF, projecting a manageable overall system shortage of just 8 percent. The Authority set total provincial withdrawals at 33.814 MAF, substantially higher than both the ten-year average of 28.870 MAF and last year’s 29.427 MAF.
Officials noted that Punjab will receive 18.207 MAF, Sindh 13.734 MAF, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 0.701 MAF through the Chashma Right Bank Canal, and Balochistan 1.171 MAF.
IRSA said the improved water outlook is expected to support key winter crops, particularly wheat, and ensure stable irrigation supplies across the country. The Authority also emphasized the importance of sustained coordination between federal and provincial irrigation bodies to manage distribution efficiently and avoid disputes.
With the country still recovering from flood-related agricultural damage, IRSA’s favorable water assessment provides a critical opportunity to stabilize the farming sector and reinforce food security in the coming months.
