Ayaz Latif Palijo, president of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT), has accused the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) of facilitating significant water diversion from Sindh by supporting the construction of six new canals on the Indus River. He claims these projects will exacerbate the province’s water scarcity, potentially leading to desertification.
Palijo warns that the new canals will intensify existing water shortages in Sindh, adversely affecting agriculture and daily life. He alleges that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), currently governing Sindh, has approved these canal projects, prioritizing political power over the province’s resource security.
The proposed canals could lead to groundwater contamination and increased seawater intrusion, further degrading arable land. Palijo criticizes the Green Pakistan initiative, suggesting it may result in land dispossession for local farmers, escalating poverty and unemployment.
Palijo urges Sindh residents to actively oppose these developments to protect the Indus River and prevent potential environmental and economic crises. Other QAT leaders echo these sentiments, condemning the PPP’s approval of the canal projects and labeling the Green Pakistan initiative as detrimental to Sindh’s water security. They advocate for land distribution to landless farmers and denounce the forced eviction of indigenous communities.
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions over water resource management in Pakistan, with Sindh leaders expressing strong opposition to federal initiatives perceived as threats to the province’s environmental and economic well-being.
