Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda on Wednesday alleged that previous government was involved in stealing water from Sindh by shutting telemeters through verbal orders.

He stated this while responding to a notice moved by PPP members calling attention to the issue of a water shortage in the province.

Faisal Vawda informed that 58 per cent less water than required was being supplied to Sindh. He claimed that water telemeters were deliberately closed by the previous regime under Nawaz Sharif in an attempt to deprive Sindh from its share of water.

Vawda assured that concerns of Sindh regarding non-provision of water according to 1991 water accord will be addressed. He said 58 per cent water theft has been reported in Karachi and the issue will be addressed in consultation with the Sindh government. A third-party neutral audit of water theft can also be arranged, he added.

The minister said that concerns of other provinces over water issue will also be addressed on priority basis. Moreover, he rejected the impression that the data of all bank accounts of Pakistan has been hacked.

On the other hand, PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, on a point of order, urged the chair to form a special committee of the House to investigate into the allegations levelled by Faisal Vawda regarding the theft of water share of Sindh and Balochistan. He said the chair can also refer this matter to the concerned standing committee of the National Assembly.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi responded to the comments made by Vawda saying that the minister had alleged that Sindh and Balochistan's water was being stolen and given to Punjab, which he said was a serious allegation.

Abbasi said that a special committee of the House regarding the allegations should be created or it should be sent to the relevant standing committee for deliberation.

He said that it should be found out on whose order water from the two provinces was being stolen and given to Punjab. "We also have a lot to say, but the respect of the House should be maintained," he said.

Vawda interjected, saying that no committee would be created and that he would himself present any report on the matter in the House.

He added that there would be no compromise on any sort of theft. He alleged that the PML-N had stolen from all organisations, to which Abbasi responded: "Look at his tone and his choice of words."

Abbasi said that if Vawda used the word 'thief' again, he would call him and his father the same. He alleged that "those who stole the election" were using the word 'theft' in every conversation in an attempt to distract from their own actions.