Sindh’s prime minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, reaffirmed his commitment to safeguard the interests of Sindh, particularly with respect to the proposed construction of six channels in the Indo River, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz, and Army staff head, also opened the ambitious Cholistan project to water the lands of southern Punjab on February 15 in a public uproar in Sindh and strong reserves expressed by the interested parties of the smallest province.
The green initiative of Pakistan of $ 3.3 billion launched by the federal government aims to develop six channels to water 1.2 million acres of “sterile land” in southern Punjab, but has found a strong opposition in Sindh, initially of the nationalist parties of Sindhi, and now the PPP too.
They fear that Sindh will lose your participation in the Indo River due to the construction of these channels. In March, the Sindh Assembly also approved a resolution against the initiative.
In statements to the media in Sukkur, Shah emphasized that the PPP opposes the project, which he believes will damage the water resources of the province.
He expressed concern that the media should know the impact of their reports, since it can shape public opinion. He clarified that funds have not been assigned for the Canals project, and the PPP will continue to challenge the proposal, according to Application.
The CM of Sindh pointed out that the Punjab government has proposed a project of RS218 billion to build new channels that require the approval of the Common Interests Council (CCI). Shah added that any water project must be approved by the CCI, according to article 155 of the Constitution.
He also highlighted the problem of water scarcity in Sindh, citing that between 1976 and 2022, 27 million water acres flowed to the sea, while 8.6 million acres were assigned for other uses, which resulted in a water shortage of 11 million acres. He questioned how the Canals project could be feasible in such circumstances.
The CM said that the PPP will continue to protect the rights and interests of Sindh, and is committed to being with the people of the province. He also promised to take the perpetrators of the murder of Shaheed Jan Muhammad Mehr.
On Thursday, the ruling allies in Punjab faced the issue of channels in Cholistan, since the provincial leadership of the PPP expressed their reserves about the irrigation project, while the PML-N accused its coalition partner of regularly politicizing water problems.
Meanwhile, another ally of the Nawaz ruling league, the PML-Q led by Chaudhry Shujaat, also said that he wants the resolution of the channel problem as soon as possible to avoid acrimony.
Sindh’s summaries with respect to new water projects, including the Cholistan channel, have been presented at the CCI in 2023 and 2024, but a decision on them is still expected. The CCI is a forum that has exclusive jurisdiction to decide water disputes.
