In a move to douse the flames of controversy over the canal projects, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday assured lawmakers that not even a drop of Sindh's water would be diverted to any other province, adding that all disputed scheme would be reviewed with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on board.
Dar was responding to the PPP's growing disquiet over the canal projects on the Indus River, as the party demanded an immediate halt to work on disputed canals and called for a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Chairing the National Assembly session, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq oversaw the heated debate as PPP lawmakers pressed the government for clarity on the matter.
Offering reassurance in his policy statement, Dar said the issue of the canals had first come up in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), and any further action was deferred after PPP's objections.
He claimed that he had not allowed canal-related matters to be included in the agenda of subsequent meetings.
"Sometimes misunderstandings arise, and they must be cleared. We are all brothers," Dar said. "I have close ties with the PPP and assure you that not even a single drop of Sindh's water will be taken for Punjab."
He clarified that Punjab was free to undertake development projects using its own share of water, but no other province would be allowed to infringe upon Sindh's quota.
Without naming, he referred to a controversial statement by a Punjab minister, calling it "inappropriate".
"From the creation of IRSA to its current operation, national interest has always been our guiding principle. The prime minister has directed that Sindh's legitimate concerns must be addressed," Dar added.
He added that the canal issue would be reviewed technically and jointly with the PPP.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also weighed in, saying, "We should not bulldoze the House".
"The 1991 Water Accord laid out the procedure for water distribution. We are always ready for consensus," Tarar added.
Earlier, on a point of order, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf shared his recent experience visiting Sindh on the occasion of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's death anniversary. "I witnessed the emotional public reaction against canal extraction projects. With provinces already facing water shortages, where will the water for new canals come from?" he asked.
He said that President Asif Ali Zardari had himself voiced opposition to such projects during his speech in the House.
Shabbir Bijarani said two canals had already been extracted from the Indus, and the province was facing a significant water shortfall. "Sindh was being given 15% of its share, and that has now been cut by 40%."
He urged that the prime minister must make a policy statement in the House and announce that no new canals will be developed.
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