ISLAMABAD: Voicing his opposition to the plan to build six new canals in Punjab, the president of Sindh United Party (SUP), Syed Zainul Abideen Shah, has said that no new major water project should be initiated unless additional water resources are developed.

He said without new water resources, the proposed canals would only end up snatching water from existing users.

Addressing a news conference at the National Press Club on Sunday, alongside SUP Dep­uty General Secr­et­a­ry Ramzan Buriro, he assailed the decision to build new canals — under the Green Paki­s­t­an Initiative — saying the venture would leave two thirds of agricultural land barren.

“We have our concerns based on historic facts about how the water allocated to Sindh had been diverted to Punjab province in the past,” he said.

He claimed the irrigation of Cholistan would not benefit the local farmers of Punjab.

“To protect the interests of few elites these canals have been termed strategic projects,” he said, adding they would only benefit the ruling elites, while locals would be left high and dry.

He further said that there have always been disputes between Punjab and Sindh on the water issue and this had started even before the formation of Pakistan, but those in power have to correct this.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2024