Sindh’s provincial minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has issued a firm warning that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will leave the federal coalition if a controversial channel project is not withdrawn.
In a speech with the media at the opening of a furniture exhibition in Karachi, Nasir Shah declared the plan for a “red line” for his party. He emphasized that although PPP avoids political conflict, it cannot compromise on national interest and provincial autonomy.
Shah accused the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) of presenting inaccurate water availability figures and said recent assessments show insufficient water to the proposed scheme. He called on the Prime Minister and the country’s political leadership to make a sensible decision and cancel the project.
He also addressed other national issues, connects domestic terrorism with hostile external forces and confirms OPPS support for military operations against militants. Shah warned against weakening of Pakistan’s armed forces and drawn parallels with Libya and Iraq, where military erosion led to chaos.
In financial affairs, Shah Furniture welcomed Expo and called it a positive step for public awareness of interior design trends. He acknowledged Pakistan’s mineral wealth, but emphasized the need for technology and investment, clarifying that provinces retain their full rights in the mining sector.
He criticized the odd gas distribution and insisted that Sindh be given priority over his own resources while securing fair distribution nationwide.
Nasir Shah, who praised Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), said it steered several promising projects and expressed hope that disputed schemes would be reviewed by management.
When commenting on agriculture, he encouraged modern agricultural methods in Sindh, especially in water -rich areas, adding that other provinces’ efforts in this direction should not be criticized.
Nasir Shah dismissed political opponents who gathered around the channel question as opportunistically and claimed that PPP’s focus remains on protecting Pakistan’s broader interests.
