ZAB’s death anniversary: Canals project review by CCI a constitutional need, says Murad

KARACHI/SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah paid rich tributes to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on his 46th death anniversary, and once again strongly opposed the canals project, terming it a “unilateral move by the Punjab government”.

Speaking to the media in Sukkur, Shah said, “No province can independently undertake a water project without the consensus of all provinces through the Council of Common Interests (CCI).”

He said the Punjab government’s proposal for Rs218 billion canals project had not been presented to the CCI as required by Article 155 of the Constitution.

The chief minister also criticised the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for issuing, what he called, a misleading water availability certificate on January 17, 2024. “This certificate was incorrect and irresponsible, and the PPP has challenged it to protect Sindh’s water rights,” he said.

He presented data highlighting the existing water scarcity, stating that there is a shortage of 11 MAF of water in Sindh. “Between 1999 and 2024, water only reached the sea in 4 years. How can new canal projects be justified in such a scenario?” he questioned.

He emphasised that even the caretaker government had rejected the canal project, and that President Asif Ali Zardari had not approved any summary related to it. He reminded that the Sindh government had raised concerns about the project in CCI back in June.

Turning to the law and order situation, the chief minister assured that police operations were ongoing in the riverine areas of Shikarpur and Kashmore. He vowed to bring the killers of journalist Jan Mohammad Mahar to justice.

“The people of Sindh have entrusted the PPP with the responsibility of protecting the province, and we will stand by them through every challenge,” he concluded, reaffirming the party’s commitment to the region.