DERA ISMAIL KHAN, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 2nd Sep, 2026) Farmers and residents of Daraban Khurd blocked the Indus Highway in protest against the non-supply of irrigation water to Distribution No. 12 for the past six months, causing long queues of vehicles and inconvenience to commuters.
The protesters said not a drop of water had been supplied to the distributary during the period, severely disrupting agriculture in the area. They said standing crops were drying up, leaving farmers facing heavy financial losses.
They alleged that the prolonged water shortage was the result of negligence and inefficiency on the part of the irrigation department officials concerned. Despite repeated appeals, they said, no effective measures had been taken to resolve the issue.
The residents said the shortage of water had also created a serious drinking water crisis for people and livestock. They claimed that several animals had died due to the unavailability of drinking water.
The protesters demanded immediate intervention by the senior irrigation authorities and restoration of water supply to Distribution No. 12.
They warned that if the supply was not restored, they would expand their protest and stage a sit-in on the Indus Highway along with their children and livestock until their demands were met.
The protesters said immediate action was needed to save the crops from further damage and provide residents and livestock with access to drinking water.
