Discover Pakistan’s Green Pakistan Initiative and Cholistan Canal Project: aims, environmental impact, irrigation, and public debate.

The Cholistan Canal Project, launched in early 2025 under the Green Pakistan Initiative, is a large-scale irrigation effort by Punjab’s government. Six canals are planned off the Indus River, aiming to transform 4.8 million acres of barren land into fertile agricultural hubs Wikipedia.

• Sector: Irrigation & Infrastructure
• Launch Date: February–March 2025
• Scope: 1.94 million hectares of desert into cultivable land

The official objectives include:

• Reviving wasteland in Cholistan and surrounding areas
• Creating new opportunities for corporate farming and rural development
• Supporting food security, employment, and economic growth

Since its launch by General Asim Munir and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, it's marketed as a visionary solution for unlocking neglected land across multiple provinces Wikipedia.

Despite its growth promise, the canal project has generated heated debate:

Environmental Concerns: Experts warn of negative effects on the fragile Indus Delta ecosystem due to excessive water diversion.
Opposition from Sindh: The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution on 13 March 2025, calling out the project for hurting downstream communities.
Civil society pushback: Farmers, legal experts, and activists staged protests in Islamabad and Sindh against canal construction Wikipedia.

Key voices include:

• Sindh politicians and PTI lawmakers, including a formal resolution filed in National Assembly on 10 April.
• Environmental NGOs and legal bodies, warning over depleting river flows and risks to delta communities.
• Farmers’ groups concerned about unsustainable groundwater extraction and long-term land degradation arxiv.org+1Wikipedia.

• Diverting large volumes from the Indus River could impact ecosystem balance, groundwater recharge, and delta livelihoods.
• The fragile context of the Sindh delta means unregulated canal flow may exacerbate salinity, desertification, or riverbank erosion.
• Environmentalists call for strategic environmental impact assessments before further development.

Summary Table

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)