Controversial canal projects by Punjab: JI opposed to allocation of funds

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh on Wednesday strongly condemned the Punjab government’s decision to allocate funds for controversial canal projects—Cholistan, Choubara, and Jalalpur—labelling it a clear provocation and betrayal of interprovincial trust.

In a statement, the party’s Sindh Chief, Kashif Saeed Shaikh, expressed grave concern over the inclusion of these canal schemes in Punjab’s FY2025-26 budget, saying the move undermines Sindh’s water rights and violates the consensus of the Council of Common Interests (CCI). He stated that this decision not only deepens mistrust among provinces but also poses serious questions about the fair distribution of national resources.

“By allocating funds to rejected and disputed canal projects, the Punjab government has exposed its persistent anti-Sindh agenda,” said Shaikh. “This action tramples over the celebration and assurances made by the PPP government, and renders Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s claims meaningless.”

According to the recently unveiled Punjab budget, Rs1 billion has been allocated for the Jalalpur Canal, another Rs1 billion for Phase 1 of the Greater Thal Canal, while further allocations have been made for the Choubara and Cholistan canals. Jamaat-e-Islami says these allocations are a direct violation of the CCI’s earlier rejections and dismissals of such projects.

Shaikh urged the federal government and the ruling PML-N in Punjab to immediately dissociate from these “anti-Sindh” initiatives. “If these schemes are not withdrawn, the people of Sindh, along with political parties, religious groups, and civil society will be left with no option but to launch a widespread protest,” he warned.

Highlighting the constitutional implications, he added: “Reintroducing budgetary support for CCI-rejected projects is not just a disregard of due process but an outright attack on provincial rights and a deviation from federal obligations.”

Calling for legal and political resistance, Shaikh urged Sindh to unite and prepare for a sustained movement to protect future generations’ rights to water and fair resource sharing. He also called on Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to raise the issue at all available forums, including the CCI, and to demonstrate his loyalty to the people of Sindh.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025