Farmers and activists in Sindh, Pakistan, are voicing strong opposition to the federal government’s plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River. They argue that these canals will divert essential water from their region, jeopardizing their livelihoods and the province’s agricultural stability.
On March 4, thousands gathered along the Indus Highway in Jamshoro for a peaceful protest that escalated when security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Hammad Naqi Khan of WWF-P questioned the justification for projects that consume fertile land for luxury housing while pushing farmers away from their livelihoods.
The Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), launched in February, aims to construct canals diverting water from the Indus to irrigate Punjab’s Cholistan region. The project includes the 176 km Cholistan Canal, intended to irrigate 1.2 million acres in southern Punjab. However, Sindh’s residents fear this will reduce their water supply, harming agriculture and livelihoods.
The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has called for the immediate cancellation of all six canal projects, stating they threaten the province’s unity and water rights. They warn that protests will continue until the government halts these projects.