The Sindh Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution presented by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, strongly opposing the construction of six new canals, including the controversial Cholistan Canal. The resolution asserts that these projects violate the 1991 Water Accord and aim to deprive Sindh of its rightful share of water.
During his address in the assembly, Chief Minister Shah emphasized that Sindh will not compromise on its water rights and pledged to resist any illegal distribution of water. He condemned the federal government’s plans to construct new canals, calling the proposals unconstitutional and unacceptable.
“Any attempt to take away Sindh’s water rights will be met with a strong response,” Shah declared.
Shah accused the federal government of using the canal projects for political leverage, claiming that Punjab and the federation are unable to justify these constructions. “The federation is only pushing these canals to exert pressure on Sindh,” he said. He also questioned the practicality of the projects, pointing out the lack of surplus water to divert into new canals. “If there’s no water, how can it be directed into the canal?” he asked.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Sindh government had already raised objections with the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and stated that no canal could be constructed without the CCI’s approval. “Until the CCI resolves this issue, no new canal should be built,” he affirmed.
Shah also reminded the assembly of past agreements on water distribution, particularly the 1945 Sindh-Punjab Agreement, which ensured fair water sharing between the provinces. He accused the federal government of imposing the 1991 Water Accord on Sindh and called for its strict enforcement.
Reflecting on past opposition to controversial water projects, including the Greater Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam, Shah reiterated the PPP’s stance against unjust projects. “We’ve always stood against such projects, and we will continue to do so,” he stated.
Furthermore, Shah criticized the Punjab government for making misleading statements regarding the Cholistan Canal, pointing out the contradiction between their claims and budget allocations. “They say they won’t take water from the Indus, but their budget shows otherwise,” he remarked, referring to Punjab’s previous allocation of Rs. 1 million for the canal, which was later withdrawn.
The Chief Minister thanked all political parties in the Sindh Assembly for their support of the resolution, emphasizing that this was a collective effort to protect Sindh’s water rights. “I want every member’s name included in the resolution alongside mine,” he said.
The Sindh government has vowed to mobilize public opposition to any illegal water projects and has called for urgent discussions with all stakeholders. “We will organize public resistance against unlawful water distribution,” Shah asserted.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also voiced his strong opposition, warning that diverting more canals from the Indus River was like “playing with fire.” He cautioned that such decisions could escalate inter-provincial tensions and lead to serious consequences.
The Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until 2:30 p.m. the following day.
