Murad warns against any attempt to divert Indus water to other regions

KARACHI: Water from the rivers cannot be siphoned off for other uses without the permission of those who have lived alongside those rivers for centuries.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said this while speaking on a resolution tabled by him at the Sindh Assembly on Thursday against the plan to construct new canals on the Indus River.

Speaking on his resolution, he reaffirmed Sindh’s historical rights over the Indus River and expressed serious concerns about the diversion of its waters to other regions.

He emphasised that Sindh had consistently maintained its stance on water distribution and warned against any attempts to divert water from the Indus without consent.

In his speech, Shah provided a historical perspective on the development of river systems in the subcontinent, highlighting Sindh’s longstanding reliance on these waters for agriculture. He questioned the rationale behind diverting water from Punjab’s fertile lands to Cholistan, arguing that such actions would have devastating consequences for both provinces.

“Sindh’s people have a rightful claim over these rivers,” he said and added that water could not be taken without the permission of those who had lived alongside those rivers for centuries. “This is a globally accepted principle,” he asserted.

The CM recalled Sindh’s previous objections to various canal projects, leading to agreements such as the Sindh-Punjab Water Accord of 1945. “Under this agreement, Punjab’s canals were allocated a fixed water share, while any excess water was to be directed to Sindh through the Panjnad system,” he said. However, he expressed concern that the water available in the system had been decreasing rather than increasing, adversely affecting Sindh’s share.

He questioned why Sindh should remain silent when the new canal project threatened its already dwindling water supply. “We are being told that water will be taken from Punjab’s most fertile lands and diverted to Cholistan and that we should not object,” he said. “Will Punjab allow its most productive regions, like Chaj Doab and Rachna Doab, to dry up just to irrigate a desert?” he asked.

Shah reiterated that Sindh had always raised its concern over unfair water distribution and would continue to do so. He reminded the House that past objections from Sindh had led to the formation of multiple commissions and, ultimately, to the Sindh-Punjab Agreement, which set clear guidelines for water allocation. He urged all the stakeholders to adhere to the historical agreements and ensure a fair distribution of water, keeping in mind the rights of Sindh’s people.