Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has warned that if the controversial canal project proceeds without Sindh’s approval, people in the province will be forced to take to the street.  Speaking to the media after offering condolences at Cardinal House over the passing of Pope Francis, CM Shah emphasised that no project against the interests of the people of Sindh would be accepted.  He stated that regardless of who initiated the project, the Sindh government had not approved it.

Since July, no progress has been made on the Cholistan canals, and the PPP has raised strong objections at every level.  Shah asserted, “We’re not questioning anyone’s intentions, but we also won’t play into anyone’s hands. This is a collective cause, and we are determined to stop the canal project for the greater good of the country.”  

Expressing concern for farmers, Shah noted that Punjab’s farmers may consider not cultivating wheat next year, and stressed the need for adopting modern agricultural technologies, citing China’s higher wheat yield per acre.  He also criticised a lack of progress in cotton production and called for fact-checking India's Indira Canal’s impacts via AI tools like ChatGPT.  

The chief minister urged all stakeholders in Sindh to protest the canal plans but peacefully, avoiding road blockages that would cause inconvenience to locals. He concluded by expressing hope that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would respect Sindh’s concerns and make a just decision, recalling that even during British colonial times, canal projects in upper regions were rejected if they harmed lower riparian areas.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)