Sindh provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah issued a firm warning that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will leave the Federal Coalition if a controversial channel project is not withdrawn.
Addressing the media at the opening of an exhibition of furniture in Karachi, Nasir Shah declared the plan a “red line” for his party. He stressed that if the PPP avoids political conflicts, it cannot compromise on national interest and provincial autonomy.
Shah accused the Industry River System Authority (IRSA) of presenting inaccurate figures for the availability of water and has declared that recent assessments show insufficient water for the proposed program. He urged the Prime Minister and the country’s political leadership to make a judicious decision and cancel the project.
He also addressed other national problems, connecting internal terrorism to hostile external forces and reaffirming the support of the PPP to military operations. Shah warned against weakening the armed forces of Pakistan, establishing parallels with Libya and Iraq, where military erosion has led to chaos.
On economic issues, Shah welcomed the exhibition of furniture, calling a positive step for public awareness of interior decoration trends. He recognized the mineral wealth of Pakistan but underlined the need for technology and investment, clarifying that the provinces retain their full rights in the mining sector.
He criticized the distribution of unequal gas, insisting that Sindh should obtain priority on his own resources while guaranteeing a fair national distribution.
Presence of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Nasir Shah said that he managed several promising projects and expressed the hope that disputed regimes would be examined by management.
Commenting on agriculture, he encouraged modern agricultural methods in the Sindh, especially in areas rich in water, adding that the efforts of other provinces in this direction should not be criticized.
Nasir Shah rejected political opponents rallying around the question of the canal as an opportunist, saying that the PPP focuses on the safeguarding of Pakistan’s wider interests.
