Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah today opposed the proposed Cholistan Canal project, terming it unconstitutional and a violation of Sindh’s water rights, while urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to immediately convene a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting.
In a beeper with Dawn News, Shah pointed out that the project cannot move forward without consensus among provinces and approval from the CCI. He stated that the Punjab government revived the canal proposal during the caretaker government and approached the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) based on the claim that 27 million acre-feet (MAF) of water flows downstream to Kotri each year.
He contested the figures, presenting historical data which shows that from 1976 to 1999, the average downstream flow at Kotri was 35 MAF. By 2023, it had declined to 27 MAF, and in the last 25 years, the average fell further to 17 MAF. He highlighted that Sindh currently receives only 8.5 MAF, despite demanding a minimum of 10 MAF.
Referring to the project’s history, he recalled that the idea was initially proposed in 1919 during British rule but was rejected by the colonial administration, deeming the Cholistan region unfit for settlement.
He dismissed claims that President Asif Ali Zardari had approved the canal, clarifying that presidential approval holds no legal standing in such matters. He pointed out that similar claims were made about other projects like Shahrah-e-Bhutto and the Thar development initiatives, which were executed without any presidential approval.
The chief minister stressed that decision-making authority lies with institutions such as IRSA, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), and the CCI. He reiterated that no new canal project can proceed without a formal decision by the CCI.
Detailing the scope of the canal proposal, he mentioned that two of the six canals already exist and are part of old irrigation systems. Two others in Sindh-the Thar and Reni Canals-were discussed but never formally initiated. The Cholistan and Chobara Canals in Punjab, he noted, are the central concerns due to their new construction plans.
He revealed that the Punjab government had already allocated land in Cholistan under the Green Pakistan Initiative, where tube wells and subsoil water are currently being used. He objected to the construction of a 300-kilometre-long canal in this region, calling it unacceptable under current water availability conditions.
The chief minister confirmed that the Sindh Assembly had passed a resolution against the project. He indicated that both the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and opposition parties in the province had expressed unified resistance.
He urged the federal government to refrain from proceeding with the project until proper consultation is completed and the CCI delivers a decision.