Pakistan: Sindh's water crisis deepens as farmers protest against proposed canals
Farmers in Sindh, Pakistan Protest Against New Canals on Indus River
Farmers from Sindh, a province in southern Pakistan, are opposing the construction of six new canals on the Indus River in Punjab's Cholistan area. They believe this project will make their lands infertile. The protest was organized by the Anti-Canals Action Committee, which includes the Sindh Abadgar Board, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, and Sindh Abadgar Ittehad. The Sindh United Abadgar Forum, linked to the Sindh United Party, is also part of this coalition.
According to the farmers, the canals, approved by the Central Development Working Party, threaten the livelihoods of millions in Sindh. Mahmood Nawaz Shah, president of the Sindh Abadgar Board, criticized the decision, questioning why canals are being built to irrigate a desert while fertile lands are at risk. He highlighted Sindh's long-standing water issues and claimed that historically, Sindh had more cultivated land than Punjab.
Miran Mohammad Shah from the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture called on Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to lead the protest, similar to his mother Benazir Bhutto's protest against the Kalabagh Dam in 1998. He emphasized that this issue affects the entire country, not just Sindh or Punjab, and urged urban residents, especially in Karachi, to recognize the seriousness of the situation.
Zubair Talpur, president of Sindh Abadgar Ittehad, condemned the project, questioning the future of Sindh's lands if new lands in a desert are irrigated. He pointed out that Sindh is already not receiving its fair share of water as per the 1991 Water Accord. Nabi Bux Sathio from the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture presented data showing Sindh's greater water shortage compared to Punjab and suggested investing in the Diamer-Bhasha dam instead.
Syed Zain Shah warned of significant migration from Sindh if the canals are built, and Bashir Shah emphasized that Sindh will not compromise on language, homeland, and water. Other speakers at the protest included Syed Nadeem Shah, Zahid Bhurgari, Mir Zafarullah, Mohib Marri, Zulfikar Yousfani, and former Sindh advocate general Yusuf Leghari, who called for weekly court boycotts to raise awareness.
Doubts Revealed
Sindh
Sindh is a province in Pakistan, similar to a state in India. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and has a lot of farming areas.
Indus River
The Indus River is one of the longest rivers in the world. It flows through China, India, and Pakistan, providing water for farming and other uses.
Canals
Canals are man-made waterways used to transport water for irrigation or other purposes. They help bring water to areas that need it for farming.
Cholistan
Cholistan is a desert area in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is known for its dry conditions and is not usually suitable for farming without irrigation.
Anti-Canals Action Committee
The Anti-Canals Action Committee is a group made up of different farming organizations. They work together to oppose the construction of new canals that they believe will harm their farming lands.
Infertile
Infertile means that the land is not good for growing crops. If land becomes infertile, it means plants and crops will not grow well there.
Livelihoods
Livelihoods refer to the way people earn money to live. For farmers, their livelihood depends on growing and selling crops.
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