Islamabad, April 10, 2025: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday submitted a resolution in the National Assembly opposing the construction of new canals from the Indus River under the Green Pakistan Initiative, citing grave concerns from the province of Sindh.
The resolution, submitted by Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan and co-signed by senior party members Zartaj Gul, Ali Muhammad Khan, and Mujahid Khan, calls for an immediate halt to the Cholistan canals project until Sindh’s reservations are addressed through constitutional channels.
Highlighting the interprovincial sensitivities surrounding water distribution, PTI demanded that an emergency meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) be convened within 15 days to ensure inclusive and transparent consultations among all provinces.
The party also called for a neutral audit of the Indus River System Authority’s (Irsa) water availability certification, urging that it be completed within 60 days. The resolution emphasized the enforcement of the 1991 Water Accord, particularly Sindh’s allocated share of 48.76 million acre-feet, as a precondition for any new canal construction.
PTI stressed the need to preserve the ecological integrity of the Indus Delta and urged that no further steps be taken without robust public consultation. The resolution called for public hearings and transparent decision-making processes that include the voices of Sindh’s representatives, civil society, and affected communities.
The canal project, inaugurated in February under the federal Green Pakistan Initiative, has sparked a growing dispute between Sindh and Punjab. Last month, the Sindh Assembly passed a unanimous resolution opposing the project, citing concerns over water rights and environmental degradation.
PTI’s resolution adds to the mounting pressure on the federal government to revisit the initiative amid fears of inequitable resource distribution and environmental fallout.
