PPP declares nationwide protest over controversial six canals project

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a key ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has declared a protest movement against the federal government’s proposed six canals project, calling the initiative “illegal.”

PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro announced during a press conference in Karachi on Friday that the party would organize protest rallies across all district headquarters on March 25 (Tuesday) against the controversial project.

“The project is illegal and should not be built… we will hold rallies and protest in every street against it,” he said.

The federal government’s plan to construct six canals on the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert has faced rejection from its main ally, PPP, and other Sindh nationalist parties.

Government sources estimate the cost of the Cholistan canal and system at Rs211.4 billion. According to “The News,” the project aims to convert thousands of acres of barren land into agricultural fields and cultivate 400,000 acres.

Political and religious parties, nationalist groups, and civil society organizations held widespread rallies across Sindh to protest against the controversial plan.

The Bilawal Bhutto-led party has repeatedly voiced concerns over the project, while President Asif Ali Zardari has warned the government that its unilateral policies are putting “grave strain” on the federation.

He condemned the government for unilaterally deciding to create more canals from the Indus River System despite strong opposition from federating units.

“A proposal that I as your President cannot support,” said Zardari and urged the “government to abandon this current proposal and work together with all stakeholders to come up with viable, sustainable solutions based on unanimous consensus among the federating units”.

Addressing the press conference today, Khuhro accused the federal government of reviving memories of dictatorship by initiating the Cholistan Canal’s construction without seeking approval from any constitutional forum.

He stated that former president Pervez Musharraf had previously built the Greater Thal Canal through an executive order, and now the PML-N government is following the same approach.

“The Punjab government also committed an unconstitutional act by allocating funds in the budget for controversial canals,” he added.

He called the project an “attack on Sindh’s water rights” and vowed that the PPP would oppose it through constitutional and democratic means. He added that the Sindh Assembly had passed a resolution against these projects, and the PPP would engage political parties, nationalist organizations, lawyers, and civil society to build a joint resistance front.

Khuhro cautioned that the Cholistan canal project posed an even greater threat to Sindh than the controversial Kalabagh Dam, as it could leave the province barren. He asserted that just as the PML-N government previously withdrew from the Kalabagh Dam, it would also be forced to abandon these canal projects.

Khuhro emphasized that President Zardari had condemned these projects as a unilateral decision by the federal government, proving his lack of involvement. The PPP leader called on the people of Sindh and all segments of society to unite in resisting these projects to safeguard the Indus River’s water.