Canals Project
A heated political dispute has erupted between Punjab and Sindh over the federal government’s ambitious canal project, with ministers from both provinces exchanging sharp words amid mounting criticism from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The project, which includes the construction of six new canals under the $3.3 billion Green Pakistan Initiative, has been labelled “unilateral” by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who voiced strong opposition during a rally in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh earlier this week.
The initiative, inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on February 15, aims to irrigate 1.2 million acres of barren land in south Punjab, particularly the Cholistan desert.
Five canals are to be constructed on the Indus River and one along the Sutlej River, with a projected water flow of 4,120 cusecs.
However, Sindh has raised serious concerns about the project, arguing that it undermines the province’s water rights. In March, the Sindh Assembly passed a unanimous resolution opposing the construction of the canals.
The resolution called for an immediate suspension of all activities related to the project until all provincial stakeholders, especially Sindh, were included in the decision-making process to ensure equitable water distribution.
Responding to Bilawal’s criticism, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari defended the project, stating that its approval had been duly signed and documented by President Asif Ali Zardari himself.
She accused the PPP of politicising the issue and questioned why Bilawal had time to engage with the federal government over budgetary matters but not to resolve inter-provincial disputes like this one.
In a sharp rebuttal, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon questioned Bokhari’s understanding of constitutional processes, asserting that the president does not have the authority to approve such infrastructure projects.
He labelled any such presidential approval as “incompetent,” stating that it bypassed due federal procedure. Memon further accused the federal government of fabricating documents and reiterated the PPP’s stance of standing with the people rather than aligning blindly with the Shehbaz-led coalition.
The controversy reflects deeper inter-provincial tensions over water resources, federal authority, and political alliances.
With protests escalating in Sindh and growing scrutiny over constitutional processes, the Green Pakistan Initiative may face significant delays unless consensus is reached among all stakeholders.
