Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed strong opposition to the proposed Cholistan canal project, stating that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) possesses the strength and authority to halt the initiative if necessary. Part of the Green Pakistan Initiative, the project aims to irrigate 4.8 million acres of barren land by constructing six canals—two each in Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab. Five of these canals would draw from the Indus River, while the sixth would utilize the Sutlej River to supply approximately 4,120 cusecs of water to the Cholistan desert in Punjab. While proponents view the project as transformative for Punjab, stakeholders in Sindh fear it may infringe upon their water rights.Â
CM Shah emphasized the PPP’s readiness to take all necessary measures to protect Sindh’s rights, highlighting that the Punjab government has not yet utilized the allocated Rs45 billion for the canal’s construction, partly due to Sindh’s objections. He also noted that no physical work has commenced on the project, with only a small model developed for potential investors. Addressing Pakistan’s acute water scarcity, Shah questioned the feasibility of diverting water to new canals when existing dams like Tarbela and Mangla have seldom reached full capacity over the past 25 years. He called for convening the Council of Common Interests to resolve the matter through proper consultation, underscoring the need for federal and inter-provincial consensus before proceeding.Â
