On April 10, 2025, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted a resolution to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, opposing the federal government’s plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River under the Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI). The PTI’s resolution demands an immediate suspension of the Cholistan canal projects until they receive approval from the Council of Common Interests (CCI), emphasizing the need to uphold inter-provincial harmony and constitutional norms.
The resolution calls for an emergency CCI meeting within 15 days to address Sindh’s reservations about the project, ensuring that all provincial stakeholders are consulted. Additionally, it requests an independent audit of the Indus River System Authority’s (Irsa) water availability certificate for the Cholistan canals, to be conducted by neutral hydrologists and environmental experts within 60 days. The findings of this audit should be presented to the National Assembly to verify compliance with the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and assess potential impacts on Sindh’s water share.
The resolution also proposes a moratorium on all new canal projects on the Indus River system until the 1991 Accord is fully enforced, ensuring Sindh’s allocated share of 48.76 million acre-feet (MAF) and protecting the lower riparian rights of downstream provinces, including maintaining a minimum environmental flow of 10 MAF below Kotri Barrage to sustain the Indus Delta. It further emphasizes the necessity for transparent consultations with downstream stakeholders, including Sindh’s elected representatives, farmers, and civil society, with public hearings documented and made accessible before any CCI decision.
This development follows significant opposition from various quarters, notably the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh. The PPP has consistently called for the CCI to deliberate on the project, citing concerns over potential adverse effects on Sindh’s water resources. On March 13, 2025, the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the construction of the six new canals, labeling them illegal and a violation of the 1991 Water Accord. The resolution urged the federal government and Irsa to halt any related plans or activities until comprehensive discussions with all provincial governments, particularly Sindh, are held to ensure the province’s water rights are protected.
The Cholistan canals project, part of the $3.3 billion GPI aimed at irrigating 1.2 million acres of barren land in south Punjab, has been a point of contention. Critics argue that it could exacerbate water shortages in downstream regions, particularly Sindh, and have called for adherence to constitutional protocols and equitable water distribution agreements.