Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro has said that construction of new water reservoirs is not possible in the prevailing situation of water scarcity, adding that even under the 1991 Water Accord provinces are not receiving their full share of water while the sea is also deprived of its due flow.

Responding to questions during the Question Hour in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, Minister Shoro said there was a persistent shortage of water at Kotri Barrage and that water for the K-IV project would also have to be arranged from elsewhere. “When sufficient water is not available in the country, how can new reservoirs be built?” he asked, while acknowledging that dams have several benefits.

He added that 1 million cusecs of water should flow downstream of Kotri, but the required quantity was not being released. Referring to Hyderabad, he said three canals originate from the city, but dams cannot be constructed on those canals.

He added that the capacity of the Phuleli Canal was being enhanced, while sewage from Hyderabad was currently being discharged into it. He further said sewage from different parts of Sindh flows into the sea and that the Public Health Engineering Department was working to ensure treated water is discharged instead.

Earlier, the House passed the Sindh Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess (Amendment) Bill, both tabled by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia-ul-Hasan Lanjar. Presenting the cess amendment, Lanjar said Sindh had not benefited from the levy due to over 500 pending court cases. Traders were consulted and urged to withdraw litigation. Under the amendment, less than one per cent cess will be collected, exports will be exempt, and the rate will be lower than Punjab’s. Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said the cess, previously 1.8 per cent, had driven industries to Punjab and welcomed its reduction.

The House also passed the Provincial Motor Vehicle Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026. An adjournment motion by MQM’s Aamir Siddiqui on restoring traffic on University Road was rejected as out of order by Chair Rehana Laghari after the law minister said development work could not be halted.

During call-attention notices, MQM’s Naseer Ahmed raised non-payment of increased salaries to town employees in Karachi. Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said complaints had been taken up with the chief minister and finance department.

Minority MPA Mahesh Kumar Haseja alleged injustice in recruitment against minority candidates for 16,000 Sindh Police constable posts. The law minister assured no injustice would occur.