An all-party conference of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam was held at a local hotel against the construction of more canals on the Indus River, which was attended by the Chief Minister of Sindh, the PPP, the Muslim League and other party leaders. The all-party conference demanded an amendment to the IRSA Act and an immediate halt to the project of new canals on the Indus River.
Addressing the all-party conference, the provincial secretary general of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Allama Rashid Mahmood Soomro, said that our party will oppose more canals on the Indus River. We have raised the voice of the province by putting political issues aside. Everyone should agree on the issue of the people of Sindh, their lands and employment.
According to the APC statement, the participants said that they reject the Thar Canal, Rainy Canal, Cholistan Canal, Greater Thar Canal, Kachhi Canal, Chashma Right Bank Canal projects. The all-party conference demands an amendment to the IRSA Act and an immediate halt to the project of new canals on the Indus River.
The construction of new canals will make millions of acres of cultivated land in Sindh barren. The construction of new canals will benefit a few companies financially, but millions of farmers and 20 million people connected to them will be unemployed.
According to the declaration, the government’s move is also against the Constitution of Pakistan and the Charter of Human Rights. The declaration further said that strengthening a few companies and weakening the provinces will not make the country strong.
The All Parties Conference understands that under the 1991 Water Distribution Agreement, the landowners of Sindh are not getting water, there is a shortage of clean drinking water in many districts including Karachi, the people of Sindh accepted the 1991 Water Agreement despite reservations and reject any further increase in it.
All parties have agreed that the parties that have representation in any level of the House will pass a condemnation resolution. If the IRSA Act and the six canal project are not stopped, we will launch a full-fledged movement through democratic means.
