The Sindh Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution presented by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, rejecting the construction of six new canals, including the Cholistan Canal.
The resolution strongly opposes these projects, declaring them a violation of the 1991 Water Accord and an attempt to deprive Sindh of its rightful share of water.
Addressing the assembly, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warned that Sindh would not compromise on its water rights and vowed to resist any illegal water distribution. He criticized the federal government for planning the construction of new canals, emphasizing that such moves are unconstitutional and unacceptable.
"Every attempt to snatch Sindh's water rights will be met with a befitting response," he asserted.
Shah accused the federal government of using the canal projects as a political tool, stating that Punjab and the federation cannot justify these constructions.
"The federation only talks about these canals to put Sindh under pressure," he claimed. He further questioned the feasibility of these projects, highlighting that there is no surplus water available to divert into the new canals. "If there is no water, how will it go into the canal?" he asked.
The CM stressed that the Sindh government has already submitted objections to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and reiterated that no canal can be built without its approval. "Until the CCI meets and resolves this matter, no new canal should be constructed," he stated.
Shah also reminded the assembly about historical agreements on water distribution, particularly the 1945 Sindh-Punjab Agreement, which ensured an equitable share of water between the provinces. He accused the federal government of forcibly imposing the 1991 Water Accord on Sindh and called for its strict implementation.
Murad Ali Shah also highlighted past resistance against controversial water projects, recalling that the PPP opposed the Greater Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam.
"We have always stood against such unjust projects, and this time will be no different," he affirmed.
Additionally, Shah criticized the Punjab government for misleading statements about the Cholistan Canal. "They claim they will not take water from the Indus, but their budget allocations tell a different story," he said, referring to the Punjab government’s previous allocation of Rs. 1 million for the canal, which was later withdrawn.
He thanked all political parties in the Sindh Assembly for supporting the resolution and stressed that this was a collective effort to safeguard Sindh's water rights. "I want all members' names to be included in the resolution alongside mine," he said.
The Sindh government has vowed to mobilize public support against any unlawful water projects and urged the federal government to hold immediate discussions with all stakeholders. "Public resistance will be organized against any illegal distribution of water," Shah declared.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of PPP, also voiced his strong opposition, stating that extracting more canals from the Indus River is akin to "playing with fire." He warned that such decisions could have severe consequences and deepen inter-provincial tensions.
The Sindh Assembly session was later adjourned until 2:30pm the next day.
