Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday assured that Sindh’s share of water would not be compromised due to the proposed six-channel project over the river Indus as protests against the project continue in the province.
When he spoke in the National Assembly, he confirmed the federal government’s obligation to maintain provincial hiking rights.
“The government is dealing with the question of water distribution with transparency and care,” he said, adding that the channel project – first proposed in July 2023 – had been delayed at Sindh’s request to allow for a thorough review.
“I urged my colleagues not to make any decisions without full consultation. We are partners, not dictators,” Dar emphasized, confirming that the Executive Committee for the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had not approved the project and that consent with stakeholder relationships was still pending.
DAR had addressed political criticism and rejected allegations of water theft. “The claims that Punjab steals Sindh’s water is absolutely baseless,” he said, accused certain political groups of exploiting the issue of gaining relevance.
He revealed that in a recent meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, he suggested an independent technical assessment of the project to protect Sindh’s wandering rights. In addition, two new telemetry monitoring points are installed to improve transparency, he said.
“We are not pushing this project forward for political reasons,” Dar maintained. “We handle it with wisdom and balance.”
DPM confirmed compliance with the water decision in 1991 and said, “No province, including Punjab, will receive water intended for Sindh. Let there be no doubt – Sindh’s share of water is safe.”
DAR urged leaders to avoid politicizing the question. “Pakistan is a federation of four provinces and our strength lies in unity. We must move on with justice and transparency.”
Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also treated the session and emphasized it urgently to solve water distribution spices. “PPP is fully obliged to protect the rights of all provinces,” he said.
PPP MNA Shazia Marri repeated these concerns and called the water crisis a national topic that requires severe dialogue rather than blaming games.
MNA Ejaz Jakhrani emphasized a constructive commitment between political parties and added that equal rights of all provinces are important to justice and national unity.
