ISLAMABAD:
The PPP on Tuesday clashed with the PML-N government over Sindh’s water share, accusing it of blocking Indus water and diverting it through six new canals.
PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman, has called for the convening of a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to clarify the government’s position on commercial agriculture in desert areas and construction of canals on the Indus River.
Speaking on an adjournment motion during the Senate session chaired by the Vice President, Rehman noted that the CCI had not met in the last 11 months. She warned that the canal project could disrupt water distribution in Sindh, worsen water scarcity and cause environmental damage.
During the session, the Minister of Water Resources, Mussadik Malik, presented the water distribution figures. However, PPP lawmakers termed the data as different from ground realities. Rehman called for urgent measures to address inequitable water distribution.
She said the government wanted to irrigate the Cholistan desert, but questioned how it would make water available for irrigation, when the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) had been reporting water shortage for 25 years.
Opposition leader Shibli Faraz supported the rights of lower riparian areas. “We support the PPP on this issue. The ICC meeting is not happening,” he said, emphasizing the need to convene an ICC meeting to resolve pressing water shortage issues.
The Water Resources Minister, while presenting a detailed reply to the House on the water distribution formula and construction of canals, said that anyone can construct canals with their own share of water. “No one’s share of water has been reduced. This is not even possible after the 18th Amendment,” he said.
PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the Upper House, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, told the House that water was being supplied according to the water distribution formula. He added that if someone built canals with their share of water, then the objection was unjustified.
Other members also participated in the discussion. Later, PPP lawmakers asked Vice President Syedal Khan to refer the matter to the relevant parliamentary committee. However, the President rejected the request, to which the PPP protested.
Also during the session, PPP lawmakers protested Communications Minister Aleem Khan’s statement regarding the party. Khan had said that the government was planning to construct a new highway from Karachi to Sukkur, which would be extended up to Karachi.
He then said that the previous government, including the PPP and PTI, should explain why they did not build highways during their tenure. He added that he was a minister for six months and “I will report on my 6-month ministerial term.”
The PPP protested against Aleem Khan’s remarks. However, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar intervened and apologized on behalf of his cabinet colleague. Later, Aleem Khan also apologized for his comments.
