SANGHAR: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Sindh is being deprived of its due share of water, even according to the 1991 Water Accord, although it has reservations against the accord.

Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating a water supply scheme undertaken by the Sindh irrigation department in Jamal Abad near Khipro town of Sanghar district on Saturday, the PPP leader alleged that Sindh was being turned into a dry province by the federal government through the Indus River System Authority.

He said the previous PPP government at the Centre had boosted confidence among the provinces and succeeded in bringing the 18th Amendment which was aimed at granting due rights to the federating units.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the PML-N government wanted to reverse the 18th Amendment, but the PPP would resist the move because the amendment was the dream of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

PPP leader alleges the PML-N government is out to reverse the 18th Amendment and vows to resist the move

He said the PML-N government had failed to annouce the National Finance Commission Award during its entire tenure in power.

He said people wanted justice, education, health and a bright future, while ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been asking in public meetings why he was disqualified.

The PML-N wanted to eliminate the poor as its federal government planned to abolish the Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme, he added.

The PPP chairman said the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) was a group of “political orphans”. Some of the GDA leaders had been holding the slots of chief ministers, ministers and other key positions, but they did not do any meaningful service for the masses, he said and added that the defeat in the Ghotki by-election had shown them their political standing among the masses.

He said the PML-Functional had done nothing for the people of Khipro, Sanghar, Shahdadpur and Tando Adam. The PPP government would set up a hospital of international standard in Sanghar, he added.

He said this party’s government had worked for poverty alleviation in Sindh and provided relief to 600,000 families.

Without naming PML-F chief Pir Pagara, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that the people would reject the notion of Peeri-muridi during the coming elections.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial minister Nisar Khuhro, MNA Shazia Marri and others also spoke on the occasion.

After inaugurating the water supply scheme, the PPP chairman visited the temples of Shri Guru Veernath and Ram and Shiv temples where a large number of Hindu community members received him.

The Sindh government scheme for Achro Thar providing water from Lower Nara Canal RD 455 to Tarr Hashim via Jesro has been operative for three years.

According to the scheme specification, 106 villages are to benefit from the scheme, with main line spread over 56km, while en route lines covering the area of 185km.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2018