Rabbani highlighted the central issue of Sindh’s status as a lower riparian province, arguing that the project should not advance to the Ecnec given Sindh’s concerns
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Mian Raza Rabbani, the former Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, has vocally opposed the controversial Cholistan Canal Project, urging the federal government to halt its construction due to significant reservations expressed by the Province of Sindh. In a press release, Rabbani condemned the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for approving the project despite the objections raised by the Sindh government, emphasizing the need for a constitutional process that respects provincial rights.
Rabbani highlighted the central issue of Sindh’s status as a lower riparian province, arguing that the project should not advance to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) given Sindh’s concerns. He pointed out that the Government of Sindh had already raised this matter in the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the appropriate constitutional forum for such contentious projects. The Sindh government’s opposition to the Cholistan Canal Project was echoed by Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, who articulated serious concerns about its potential impact on the province’s already strained water resources.
Shoro highlighted that the approval of the project poses a threat to Sindh’s water supply and expressed intentions to stage a strong protest against the federal decision. Despite extensive discussions in the CCI and significant objections from Sindh, the CDWP has advanced the project to the Ecnec for final approval. Shoro warned that the canal could exacerbate Sindh’s water shortage, potentially rendering agricultural lands barren. The Cholistan Canal Project, estimated at Rs211.399 billion, has generated alarm in Sindh regarding its implications for the province’s limited water resources.
