Indus Canals Project
ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party submitted a formal resolution to the National Assembly Secretariat, expressing strong opposition to the construction of canals from the Indus River as part of the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI).
The resolution, spearheaded by Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan and signed by key party figures such as Zartaj Gul, Ali Muhammad Khan, and Mujahid Khan, calls for an immediate halt to the Cholistan canal project, citing concerns over its potential impacts on Sindh’s water rights and the constitutional framework.
The resolution, titled “Resolution on Addressing Sindh’s Reservations Regarding the Green Pakistan Initiative of Constructing Canals on the Indus River,” specifically demands that the federal government convene an emergency meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) within the next 15 days to address Sindh’s objections and involve all relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process.
The party’s concerns are rooted in the belief that the canal projects in Punjab, which were approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in October 2024 under the GPI, could drastically affect Sindh’s water share, potentially harming the province’s agriculture and ecological systems.
One of the key points raised in the resolution is the demand for the suspension of the Cholistan canal construction until the CCI provides formal approval in line with Articles 154 and 155 of the Constitution.
PTI has also called for a comprehensive moratorium on all new canal projects along the Indus River until the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 is fully enforced, with a focus on ensuring that Sindh’s share of 48.76 million acre-feet (MAF) of water is protected.
The party further emphasizes the importance of maintaining an environmental flow of 10 MAF below the Kotri Barrage to safeguard the Indus Delta.
Additionally, the resolution requests an independent audit of the Indus River System Authority’s (Irsa) water availability certificate by a neutral panel of hydrologists and environmental experts. This audit should be conducted within 60 days, with its findings submitted to the National Assembly for review and to assess compliance with the 1991 accord.
In a bid to ensure greater transparency and inclusion in the process, PTI has insisted that all decisions regarding the canal projects be made in consultation with Sindh’s elected representatives, civil society, and downstream stakeholders. The resolution calls for public hearings to be held and made publicly accessible before any decision is made by the CCI.
The growing dispute over the Cholistan canal project has further escalated tensions between the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh. This has led to protests, such as the one planned in Karachi by the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and PTI, warning of potential disruptions to the city’s water supply.
The Sindh Assembly also passed a resolution against the project in March, and the political feud between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has intensified over the issue.
