IN the context of the ongoing debate about the government plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River, it is important to note that the Punjab province has been involved in open pilferage of water in ways more than one reportedly for more than a century. This has continued even after the Chashma-Jhelum link canal that was specifically buily to facilitate the province both in terms of agricultural input and for the drainage of floodwater post-monsoon. Now, for the last about a year, there are active efforts to have six more canals even if it happens at the cost of Sindh, the lower riparian.

The people of Sindh have been prote-sting against the project, and they are protesting not just in their own interest; they are doing it in the interest of the federation at large. It was Sindh that had supported the idea of an independent Muslim country that led to the emergence of Pakistan on the global map, and, as such, their loyalty to the state has remained unmatched to date.

The protests across Sindh have been massive and frequent, but, for some strange reason, the mainstream media has not been giving due coverage to these demonstrations and rallies.

The people in other provinces as well as political leaders should have a clear idea of what the people in Sindh feel about what the government is planning to do, but that is just not possible without effective coverage of the issue.

Mansoor ul Haque Solangi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025