PPP confronts govt over water share, new canals

The PPP confronted the PML-N government over Sindh's water share on Tuesday, accusing it of blocking the Indus water and diverting it water through six new canals.

PPP Parliamentary Leader in Senate Senator Sherry Rehman called for convening a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to clarify the government's position on commercial farming in the desert areas and constructing canals on the Indus river.

Speaking on an adjournment motion in the Senate session chaired by the deputy chairman, Rehman noted that the CCI had not met in the past 11 months. She warned that the canals plan could disrupt water distribution in Sindh, worsen water scarcity and cause environmental damage.

During the session, Minister for Water Resources Mussadik Malik presented the water distribution figures. However, the PPP lawmakers termed the data different from the ground realities. Rehman called for urgent measures to address the inequitable water distribution.

She said that the government wanted to irrigate the Cholistan desert but asked how it would make water available for irrigation, when the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) had been reporting water shortage for the past 25 years.

Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz supported the rights of lower riparian areas. "We support the PPP on this issue. The CCI meeting is not being held," he said, stressing the need for convening a CCI meeting to resolve the pressing water scarcity issues.

The water resources minister, while presenting a detailed answer in the House on the water distribution formula and the construction of canals, said that anyone could build canals on its own share of water. "No one's share of water has been reduced. It is not even possible after the 18th Amendment," he said.

PML-N parliamentary leader in the upper house, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, told the house that water was being provided under the water distribution formula. He added that if someone was building canals on its share of water, then the objection on it was unjustified.

Other members also participated in the discussion. Later, the PPP lawmakers demanded of Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan to refer the matter to the relevant house committee. However, the chair turned down the request, on which the PPP protested.

Also during the session, the PPP lawmakers protested against Communications Minister Aleem Khan's statement regarding the party. Khan had said that the government intended to build a greenfield motorway from Karachi to Sukkur, which would be extended to Karachi.

He then said that the past government, including the PPP and the PTI, should answer, why they did not build motorways during their tenures. He added that he was the minister for six months and "I will give account of my 6-month ministerial term".

The PPP protested at Aleem Khan's remarks. However, Law Minster Azam Nazeer Tarar intervened and apologised on behalf of his cabinet colleague. Later, Aleem Khan also apologised over his remarks.