Nationalists term canals project shelving temporary

In a major win for Sindh people, federal government has temporarily postponed its controversial plan of constructing new canals in the Indus River. The move is fuelled by weeks of increasing protests and stiff resistance from civil society, political activists and citizens in the province.

A United Stand Across Sindh

It is being hailed as a result of the unprecedented unity among the people of Sindh. With a barrage and canal network aimed at lifting water from the Indus already overburdened and running dry, a ‘deluge’ of people – political leaders, lawyers, students, farmers, women’s groups, journalists and citizens across the board – joined forces to stand up and say: we will not let you rob the province’s already tenuous water rights, its proud heritage and balance of ecology.

This collective effort, the leaders of the movement say, is a ‘historic moment of resistance’, proving the power of the public will in protecting provincial resources.

Sindh Bachao Tehreek to Chart Next Steps

After the announcement, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have called for consultative meeting to be hosted on 30th April by the Sindh Bachao Tehreek (Save Sindh Movement). It will be used to brainstorm and frame the next phase of the campaign, to keep the issue alive and the government starting back up the project without consensus.

Continued Vigilance Promised

The postponement is a relief for many, but activists have stressed that this is only a temporary success. The canal proposal is now being handled under much suspicion and their vow is to remain vigilant and continue in their struggle till there is a permanent withdrawal of the canal project and the guarantee of the protection of Sindh’s water rights constitutionally and practically.

Leaders of the protest said: ‘We congratulate the people of Sindh for this achievement, but our mission is yet to be completed.’ “The only thing is, now our unity has to transform into prolonged vigilance.”