In a significant development, the federal government has agreed to initiate dialogue with the Sindh government to address concerns over the controversial canal projects.
The breakthrough came during a phone call between Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. Both leaders expressed commitment to resolving the dispute through peaceful negotiation.
Rana Sanaullah stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif had instructed the centre to address Sindh’s reservations.
“The federal government supports fair resource distribution among all provinces,” he said, reiterating that no province’s water can be diverted unlawfully.
Sanaullah emphasised that the issue should not be politicised, adding that the 1991 agreement and IRSA Act safeguard provincial rights.
“Dialogue and consultation are the solution to every problem,” he said.
Sharjeel Memon said that the PPP and the people of Sindh hold serious concerns about the proposed canals. He reaffirmed Sindh’s position on the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and welcomed federal dialogue efforts.
The dispute centres on a federal plan to construct six canals diverting water from the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert. The Rs211.4 billion project aims to cultivate 400,000 acres of barren land but has sparked strong opposition in Sindh.
Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned the party might exit the ruling coalition if its concerns were not addressed.
Political parties, civil society, and nationalist groups have staged widespread protests across Sindh.
