Pakistan is currently navigating through complex challenges. In addition to global scrutiny following India's Operation Sand Dune, the country is witnessing rising unrest in regions like Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Cholistan Canal Project is another focal point of controversy, leading to violent protests in Sindh on Wednesday, resulting in two fatalities.
Sindh in Turmoil Over Water
Sindh has long opposed this canal project, with demonstrators assaulting the home of Home Minister Ziaullah Hasan Lanjhar in Naushahro Feroze district on Wednesday. The protest escalated into looting and arson. Why is this canal project meeting fierce opposition in Sindh, and what does Pakistan hope to achieve?
Termed the lifeblood of Pakistan, the Indus River is central to the Cholistan Canal Project, where the government plans to construct six canals to transport water to Punjab's Cholistan desert. Spanning approximately 175 km, the project aims to supply Punjab with water, which Sindh sees as a betrayal.
Battle Lines: Sindh vs. Punjab
Sindhi citizens fear this corporate-driven canal project will usurp their rightful water, urging large corporations to exploit their land for profit. This threat has made the project a matter of life and death for many in Sindh, sparking widespread protests.
The Indus River's water is critical for drinking and irrigation. Should the Cholistan Project proceed, water will be rerouted through six canals towards Punjab, potentially turning Sindh into a desert akin to parts of Punjab, thereby creating a livelihood crisis.
The objective of aligning the project with six strategic canals was brought forth in a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and GPI officials in July 2024. These canals were deemed essential for agricultural and food security, with consistent funding from federal and provincial governments set in motion by Prime Minister Shehbaz and Army Chief Asim Munir.
According to a report by 'Al Jazeera', these canals—spanning around 175 km with a capacity of 4,120 cusecs—are expected to be completed by 2030 at an estimated cost of $783 million. Officials have acquired 1.2 million acres of farmland in Punjab, predominantly within the Cholistan desert, bordering India.
The project's first phase will cover 452,000 acres, and upon completion of the second phase, 750,000 acres will be irrigated. Currently, over 170,000 acres in the Cholistan Desert are actively farmed by private investors. Pakistan's government sees the Cholistan Canal construction as a pivotal move to bring sustainable water supplies to barren lands.
Where will the water originate?
Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, which dictated water allocation between Pakistan and India, Pakistan controls the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, while India governs the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas rivers. The proposed canal scheme suggests utilizing excess floodwaters from the Sutlej River under Indian jurisdiction. However, critics argue that relying solely on floodwaters is an unreliable strategy.
Currently, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, putting water-sharing negotiations in limbo. India seeks to reevaluate the agreement to prioritize its own interests, which casts uncertainty on the Cholistan Project's future, as post-suspension, India is not obliged to transfer Pakistan's share of the river waters.
