Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has assured the PPP that Sindh's right to water will not be violated, and that no province, including Punjab, will be allowed to take Sindh's water.
Speaking in the National Assembly session on Monday, Dar said that the canal project came up in the ECNEC meeting in July, but the agenda was postponed after Sindh had objected to it. The ECNEC meeting held last week once again postponed the matter, he added.
“If Punjab wants to build something, it should build it with its own water. I want to assure you that not a single drop of Sindh's water will be stopped. The telemetry system was approved, and those responsible were also informed about it,” he told the House.
Dar also said that the issue was being exaggerated on the basis of misunderstandings, adding that those whose politics had ended had now come up again. “We will all work together to resolve any legitimate issues,” he stressed.
The minister also said that the PPP was very dear to the government, being partners, adding that the prime minister had entrusted some officials with the responsibility of political consultation. He said progress had been made on many issues, while some were ye unresolved.
“Development issues are being discussed. The canal issue came up in the ECNEC meeting that I had to chair in the absence of the prime minister,” he explained.
He further assured the PPP that the right of Sindh's water will not be violated. “We will work side by side; no province, including Punjab, will be allowed to take Sindh's water,” he stressed.
PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel's speech
Abdul Qadir Patel said protests had broken out across Sindh on the issue of canals, calling it a technical issue and not political. He added that there should be no politics on it, as those who had been ignored were also protesting today.
“Those who were against the federation till yesterday have come out on this issue today. The issue has been in the Council of Common Interests since 2024, as well as in the ECNEC. Let alone support, the Sunni Ittehad Council or PTI, whatever it is, has not even sat down on the issue. Take the salty sea water from my constituency and give me a couple of glasses of sweet water,” he remarked.
Shazia Marri's speech
The PPP MNA said this was a very sensitive issue, as the water problem is linked with peace. She said politics was not a bad word but politics is not being done on water, as this was a technical issue. She added that millions of acres had been lost in Kotri downstream region.
“Unfortunately, downstream, the water is not waster but needed. The Indus River System Authority was created specifically so that the issue of water distribution could be resolved, but it did everything except monitoring. IRSA has only issued false certificates. Just tell us where will water be brought from for the six canals project? Three provinces have passed resolutions on Kalabagh Dam,” she remarked.
