The meeting emphasized that a two-pronged strategy must be adopted: short-term measures to provide immediate relief to farmers and long-term structural changes to address the adverse effects of climate change. photo: file
RAHIM YAR KHAN:
Annual and bi-annual canal closure (wara bandi) schedule for Rahim Yar Khan district has been announced, according to which water supply from Head Panjnad to all canals feeding the district will remain completely suspended from January 5 to 25, 2026.
Ahead of the lockdown, farmers and agricultural stakeholders across the district urged authorities to use the suspension period for thorough and effective cleaning and maintenance of the canal system, warning that continued negligence could severely affect upcoming crops.
The farmers have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Provincial Irrigation Minister Kazim Pirzada to immediately take note of the deteriorating canal infrastructure and formulate a transparent, comprehensive and result-oriented plan for annual desilting of the entire canal network originating from Head Panjnad.
According to farmers, years of poor maintenance and ineffective sediment removal have left the Rahim Yar Khan irrigation system in a fragile state, directly affecting agricultural productivity and causing huge financial losses to farmers each year.
They said the accumulation of silt and rampant growth of reeds along the banks of the canals have significantly reduced the water carrying capacity.
The canals, including Abbasiya Link canal, Dullas canal, Panjnad canal, Abbasiya canal, Sadiq branch, Adam Sahaba canal, Aab-e-Hayat canal and Sheeren canal, along with several minor distributors, are reported to be clogged with silt and vegetation.
