Islamabad, April 21, 2025: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday assured Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon that all concerns raised by the Sindh government over the controversial canals project would be addressed through dialogue and mutual consultation.
The assurance came during their second telephonic conversation, as tensions continue to rise between coalition partners over the federal government’s plan to construct six canals from the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert in Punjab.
The renewed outreach by the Centre follows a stern warning issued two days ago by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who threatened to pull out of the ruling coalition if Sindh’s concerns over the project were not taken seriously.
Speaking to Memon, Sanaullah reaffirmed that the federal government would not proceed without consensus. “All issues will be addressed through mutual understanding. Under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, no province’s water can be diverted to another,” he said. “The issue is administrative and technical in nature and will be resolved on the same grounds.”Ind
The project, estimated to cost Rs211.4 billion, aims to bring 400,000 acres of barren land in the Cholistan region under cultivation. While proponents argue it will benefit agricultural productivity, the plan has faced fierce resistance across Sindh, with political parties, nationalist groups, and civil society organizations staging widespread protests against what they describe as an encroachment on Sindh’s water rights.
In the call, Memon reiterated the PPP’s demand for fair water distribution, highlighting that the people of Sindh would not tolerate any move that undermines their share of the Indus waters.
Sanaullah acknowledged Sindh’s concerns and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to inter-provincial harmony. He assured that “no province will be deprived of its rightful share,” and emphasized the need to continue consultations for a solution agreeable to all stakeholders.
The issue remains a key flashpoint between the PML-N-led federal government and its key ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party, which governs Sindh. The outcome of these consultations may significantly impact the stability of the ruling coalition in the coming weeks.
