The Sindh province of Pakistan is engulfed in protest flames ignited by Shahbaz Sharif's government, seemingly to benefit China and his allies. Shahbaz Sharif plans to construct six canals on the Indus and Sutlej rivers for personal and Chinese company gains, disregarding citizens' welfare. In Sindh, dissent has reached a fever pitch; on Tuesday, demonstrators attacked and set fire to the residence of Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjhar in Naushahro Feroze district.
The angered protesters targeted the minister's Morro city residence near the National Highway, setting two trucks ablaze. Clashes between police and demonstrators led to two protestors' deaths, while a dozen, including a DSP and six policemen, were injured.
Sindh's residents already face water shortages, fearing that the construction of six canals will exacerbate their plight.
The proposed $3.3 billion Six Canals Project, launched under the 'Green Pakistan Initiative' in 2023 with Army Chief General Asim Munir's support, aims to transform desert areas into greener pastures. The plan involves channeling Indus and Sutlej waters to Punjab's Cholistan Desert, covering about 175 km with six canals' inclusion.
With a capacity of 4,120 cusecs, the project aims for completion by 2030. In Punjab, 1.2 million acres of land have been acquired for its implementation, over 90% within Cholistan, adjacent to India’s Rajasthan desert.
Phase one targets over 400,000 acres for fertile cultivation, while phase two involves irrigation expansion over 750,000 acres. The project notably caters to corporate farming by granting lands to private investors, including Chinese and Gulf state firms. Over 170,000 acres in Cholistan have already been claimed by these entities.
Sindh's citizens fear their rightful water supply will funnel into corporate agricultural interests, amplifying existing water scarcity. Their reliance on Indus water for drinking and irrigation intensifies their struggle.
This decades-old narrative insinuates Sindh is sidelined while federal focus remains Punjab-centric. Sindh residents argue that their water and irrigational needs are being sacrificed to enrich Punjab's arid zones, criticizing the government's actions as transforming Pakistan into 'Punjabistan' with monopolized resources.
The government's support for the project has spurred violent protests, prompting temporary suspension.
Bilawal Bhutto, former Foreign Minister and a PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) ally in Shahbaz Sharif's coalition government, rules Sindh. Outraged, Bilawal issued stern ultimatums threatening to withdraw PPP's coalition support if the project persists, prioritizing people's welfare over political alliances.
In April 2025, Bilawal's firm ultimatum underscored his commitment to Sindh's populace against government neglect leading to farmer distress.
The heart of the controversy is Army Chief Asim Munir. Part of the project's Special Investment Committee, Munir orchestrated the coalition government under Shahbaz Sharif post Imran Khan's ousting in April 2022. Without Munir's consent, Sharif remains tethered to the project.
Dissent echoes in Punjab, with South Punjab farmers decrying water theft and land degradation due to project ambitions.
