By Junaid Qaiser

In recent weeks, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has mounted an impassioned opposition to the federal canal projects—a move that many in Sindh believe could jeopardize the region’s water resources, agriculture, and autonomy. While protests have erupted across Sindh—from Larkana to Thatta and Nawabshah—the Lahore press conference held by PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed stands out as a particularly forceful denunciation of the project.

At the press conference, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed spared no words in his critique of the federal plan. He described the canal project as nothing short of “reverse engineering,” a term that aptly captures his skepticism toward an initiative which, in his view, attempts to rework a fragile water system already under severe strain. “The flood starts in July and ends in September,” he noted, pointing out that farmers in Cholistan would have only a 90-day window for cultivation. “Will you cultivate in Cholistan for only 90 days? Will you give land to farmers for only 90 days? What will farmers do for the remaining nine months?” His questions cut to the heart of a water management policy that seems designed for short-term fixes rather than long-term sustainability.

Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed’s remarks come at a time when water scarcity has become an increasingly pressing issue in Pakistan—a country where water availability is not only a domestic challenge but also a critical element of international relations with India. “Water is a major issue between Pakistan and India,” he stressed, warning that the current system already suffers a 20% shortage, with no extra water to spare. His assertion that “water availability is decreasing over time” resonates deeply in a nation where every drop counts, and where the promise to restore “14 D” appears as an overly optimistic target under current conditions.

The PPP’s protests across Sindh have underscored a broader concern: that the federal government’s canal projects, intended to modernize agriculture by transforming desert lands into cultivable areas, disproportionately favor northern provinces while sidelining Sindh’s long-standing water rights. Torch-lit rallies in Nawabshah and Larkana, where demonstrators chanted slogans against what they term an “anti-Sindh” project, echo the fears of communities that see their fertile lands at risk of turning barren.

Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed took these concerns to the national stage with a series of pointed queries directed at the Punjab government. “CM Punjab, just clarify which canals will be used to provide water to Cholistan,” he demanded, highlighting the practical challenges of reallocating more than 4,000 cusecs of water to a region already facing critical shortages. He warned that attempts to extract water against the existing system could further disrupt a delicate balance, worsening a crisis that has evolved over decades of mismanagement.

The broader context of these debates cannot be ignored. The current canal projects evoke memories of past disputes—such as those surrounding the Kalabagh Dam—where unilateral federal decisions have historically threatened provincial rights and the socio-economic stability of millions in Sindh. As the protests intensify and the PPP presses for a withdrawal of the canal plans, it becomes clear that this is not merely an infrastructure debate; it is a struggle for the survival of Sindh’s agrarian communities and the equitable management of a nation’s most precious resource.

In an era when Pakistan’s water resources are more strained than ever, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed’s forceful critique at the Lahore press conference serves as a stark reminder: water policy must be grounded in reality. It requires a thoughtful, consensus-driven approach—one that not only addresses immediate agricultural needs but also secures a sustainable future for all provinces. Until the federal government and the Punjab authorities engage in genuine dialogue that respects Sindh’s rights and realities, projects of this nature risk not solving the water crisis but, worse, exacerbating it.

Ultimately, the challenge lies not in the technicalities of canal construction but in the political will to manage water equitably. As Pakistan navigates this critical juncture, the passionate outcry of leaders like Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed must not fall on deaf ears. The nation’s water future—and with it, its agricultural and economic stability—depends on it.