Pakistan People’s Party lawmakers on Thursday staged a protest in parliament over a resolution against the six canals project was not included in the National Assembly agenda, a statement from party central spokesperson Shazia Marri said.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Asim Munir inaugurated the ambitious Cholistan project to irrigate south Punjab’s lands on February 15 amid public uproar and strong reservations in Sindh.
The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River in March, demanding an immediate halt to any plans, activities or work until an agreement was reached with all provincial governments.
According to Thursday’s statement published on X, the resolution opposing the construction of canals was submitted on April 7 and did not receive support from either the PML-N or the MQM.
“Despite the response of the PML-N in the House, the PPP is continuously demanding the approval of a resolution against the construction of canals on the Indus River,” Marri wrote, adding that the PTI “caused a ruckus” during today’s proceedings.
She continued that the PPP blamed Punjab ministers for “provocative and divisive” statements on the issue, whilst chastising the PTI for disrupting the session.
“It was very upsetting to see the PTI’s irresponsible attitude on display during the debate on the canals,” Marri wrote. “The fact is, two of these canals were approved by [then-premier] Imran Niazi [Khan] during the PTI’s tenure, which Sindh was strongly against.”
Marri added that if the PTI wanted to make amends for this past error, then they should “support our resolution”.
“We have to stand together against the canal project, as it is a matter of life and death,” the party spokesperson added. “Water should be distributed across the country according to the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord.”
Stating that the PPP has always fought for fair water distribution, the party spokesperson reiterated PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari’s stances on the issue, with both figures calling the project “unilateral”.
Part of the Green Pakistan Initiative, the Cholistan canals project aims to irrigate a total of 4.8 million acres of barren land by constructing six canals — two each in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. Five of these canals will be built on the Indus River, while the sixth will constructed along the Sutlej River, supplying approximately 4,120 cusecs of water to irrigate the Cholistan desert in Punjab.
What is being hailed as a game-changer for Punjab has triggered an uproar in Sindh, which believes that the scheme will further disturb the ecological balance in the province and deprive it of its mandated water share.
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