PPP, PTI join hands in Senate on new canals issue

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) found common ground in the Senate on Tuesday, opposing the government’s water diversion plan for corporate farming. Lawmakers from both sides advocated for the plan to be referred to the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Speaking on her adjournment motion, PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman criticised the government’s proposal to divert water from the Indus River to construct six new canals without consulting the provinces or following constitutional procedures.

Questioning the government’s silence on the controversial project, she said, “If the caretakers cannot understand the meaning of a green Pakistan, we should at least acknowledge it.” She called for transparency, accurate data, and the consent of all stakeholders before developing any new command areas.

She demanded assurances from the government that the project would not render half of Pakistan water-deficient for corporate farming. “This must be resolved through constitutional forums,” she said, lamenting that the CCI had not convened for 11 months.

Sherry Rehman asserted that her party rejects any proposal that impacts public resources without consultation. She warned that the project could severely affect Sindh’s water availability and the agricultural sector struggling with severe shortages in several districts.

She criticised the incompetence of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), claiming that Sindh was already the most affected province. She expressed concern that irrigating barren land in Cholistan could lead to the desertification of Sindh’s fertile lands, severely impacting agricultural productivity. Rehman further warned that while the canals might financially benefit a few corporations, millions of farmers—affecting nearly 20 million people—could face unemployment. She emphasised that the project would require additional water flow, which the system currently cannot provide. She also highlighted widespread opposition to the canals from political circles and farmers in Sindh and Balochistan, urging the federal government to convene the CCI immediately to address provincial concerns.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz questioned why the PPP was complaining when it was part of the ruling coalition. “You are a major ally of the government. You even spearheaded the constitutional amendment package. It is your right to be heard,” he said while supporting the need for lower riparians’ rights to be considered.

Faraz criticised the lack of institutionalisation in the CCI, lamenting that even its secretariat had not been established. He called for the council to meet as soon as possible.

PPP Senator Jam Saifullah rejected the perception that Sindh has an excess of water that flows into the sea, accusing vested interests of promoting this narrative to justify controversial projects. He warned that unilateral decisions to construct canals could have serious repercussions, adding that his party would take the matter to the Supreme Court if the CCI did not address it.

Parliamentary leader of the JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza argued that such decisions should only proceed if surplus water is available, pointing out that IRSA’s records show water shortages under the 1991 Water Accord. PMLN Senator Irfan Siddiqui emphasised that the 1991 accord explicitly defines provincial water shares, and each province should have the authority to utilise its share as agreed. He said that if Punjab constructs canals using its allocated water share, it should not be seen as a violation. PTI Senator Ali Zafar supported Sherry Rehman’s stance, terming water a national issue in a water-scarce country. He called for addressing inefficiencies in irrigation, crop rotation systems, and the impact of climate change.

Responding to the debate, Minister for Water Resources Musadik Masood Malik clarified that no dam, barrage, or link canal was being constructed on the Indus River. He said the Cholistan Canal, being built on the Sutlej River, would draw water from the Sulemanki Barrage in Punjab, using Punjab’s allocated water share as certified by IRSA. The minister assured that all provinces receive their due water share under the accord, monitored through a proposed water telemetry system for real-time tracking. He dismissed claims that Sindh was being deprived of water, citing data that an average of 15.6 million acre-feet (MAF) of water flows annually into the sea from Kotri Barrage, compared to the required 8.5 MAF. Sherry Rehman, however, challenged the government’s data, highlighting that both Punjab and Sindh had faced annual water shortages of 13% and 19%, respectively, between 1999 and 2023. She urged the chair to refer the matter to the relevant standing committee, but her request was declined.