Sindh has long faced an acute water shortage, while Punjab has continued to draw water from the Indus River and store its own supplies in Mangla Dam. Naseer Memon, a climate change and water governance expert, shared data on Facebook regarding the discharge positions of dams, barrages, and canals.

Memon said that on Monday, April 28, the canals of Sukkur Barrage were receiving only 22,000 cusecs of water — a 30 percent shortfall from the expected 31,000 cusecs — while Punjab was simultaneously storing 8,000 cusecs in Mangla Dam. He added that Punjab was diverting more water from Tarbela Dam than its inflow, channeling it through two link canals to supply the Chenab-Jhelum zone. According to Memon, Punjab was drawing 6,653 cusecs from the Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal and another 2,000 cusecs from the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal.

Since last year, Sindh has staged protests against the construction of six canals and demanded the release of its water share. Despite these demands, Punjab has continued to store water in its dams, while Sindh endures worsening shortages.