IRSA under fire for opening TP Link Canal
The 363-kilometre-long main canal, out of which 351km is lined canal, starts from Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab and ends in Dera Bugti district in Balochistan. PHOTO: FILE
The Sindh government and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday launched a strong criticism against the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) for opening a link canal in Punjab, amid ongoing water shortages in the Indus River system.
Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri, and PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, in separate statements, demanded that the Irsa immediately close the Taunsa-Panjnad (TP) Link Canal, arguing that it was designed solely for flood seasons, not for irrigation.
Pakistan is currently facing a severe water shortage in the Indus River system. Data shows that during the first 10 days of April, water shortages reached 62% in Sindh and 54% in Punjab. Minister Shoro warned that repeatedly opening the TP Canal would further worsen Sindh's water crisis.
"There is no drinking water available in Sindh," Shoro stated in a letter to Irsa. "Opening the TP Link Canal amid this water shortage is like rubbing salt on Sindh's wounds. The canal must be closed immediately."
PPP Central Information Secretary Shazia Marri questioned the logic behind opening the canal "at a time when Sindh is facing a devastating 62% water shortage." She stressed that link canals like the TP were never intended to operate year-round.
"These canals were never meant to be perennialthey should only open during floods," she said. "Operating the TP Link Canal during a shortage will further deprive downstream areas of water and cause greater harm."
Marri backed the Sindh government's protest against Irsa and reiterated the PPP's long-standing demand for equitable water distribution under the 1991 Water Accord.
Calling water diversion under the pretext of "technical necessity" as unacceptable, she said, "Water is not a political toolit is a constitutional right," adding that the issue should not be exploited for political gains. "For us, it's a matter of life and death."
She also criticised the federal government's silence, warning that the Centre "cannot ignore the people's suffering." She added: "We demand the immediate closure of the TP Link Canal and urge Irsa and the federal government to intervene."
Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the canal's opening as "highly irresponsible" and a violation of inter-provincial harmony. She demanded its immediate closure and called for a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting to address the crisis.
Rehman noted that the Indus River was already at a 100-year low, and such actions "amount to stealing Sindh's water rights."
"Irsa's bias is undeniableits decisions are inflicting severe damage on Sindh," she said. "We demand transparency, accountability, and fairness in distributing Pakistan's most vital resource: water."
She warned that constructing new canals without provincial consensus would deepen disputes, saying: "Inequitable water distribution will harm millions of farmers, heighten inter-provincial tensions, and weaken the federation."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PPP straddles the fence on ally's hybrid model claims
Listen to article The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), once a fierce critic of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for claiming to be "on the same page" with the establishment, now finds itself in a rather awkward silence after its key ally in the ruling alliance not only admitted to the existence of a hybrid model but appeared to wear the newfound power-sharing arrangement with the military as a badge of honour. The recent confession by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif – about what has long been an open secret – has laid bare an uncomfortable truth: the PML-N-led government is now openly conceding to operating under a power-sharing arrangement with the military. Asif not only just lifted the curtain but drew it wide open, calling the current setup "exemplary". What raised more than a few eyebrows was Asif's thinly veiled dig at his own party leader Nawaz Sharif. He even went on to say that Sharif's failure to implement such a hybrid model in the 1990s led to his early political exits – twice. The remark effectively undercuts Nawaz Sharif's oft-repeated claim that he was shown the door for "serving the country", making his once-defiant slogan "Mujhe Kyun Nikala" (why was I removed?) ring hollow. The PPP, which once rode the moral high horse in its opposition to military interference in civilian rule, now seems to have bitten its tongue. Its leaders, who once fired on all cylinders against PTI's so-called hybrid rule, suddenly appear to be walking on eggshells. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari not only coined the term "puppet PM" for Imran Khan but later wore that verbal jab as a political trophy, priding in having popularised the phrase during the waning days of the PTI government. Ironically, the PPP, formerly the loudest critic of the hybrid model, now appears at a loss for words about a system they themselves are actively part of. When asked to comment on Khawaja Asif's remarks, Chaudhry Manzoor, a PPP leader from Punjab, deflected, saying the question should instead be directed to the PML-N. When it was pointed out that the PPP had been vocally critical of such arrangements in the past, and now that its ally has openly admitted to it – thus making PPP complicit – he responded, "Unfortunately, I have neither listened to the interview nor do I have any knowledge about it". Senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, when approached for comment, questioned whether anything Khawaja Asif said was actually new. "Wasn't this known to everyone all along?" he asked. When queried whether the PPP was now comfortable being part of a hybrid model, Kaira said he could not speak on behalf of the party and would need to consult the leadership to clarify their position. He also dodged the question regarding the PPP's historical criticism of hybrid arrangements, saying that only the party could take an official stance. Attempts to reach the party's Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan and PPP leader from Sindh, Shazia Marri, for comments were unsuccessful.
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
JI demands fair share for Karachi in provincial budget
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi staged a large protest march on Saturday, demanding a fair share for Karachi in the provincial budget, early completion of the K-4 water supply project, and an end to what it called chronic injustices against the city. The rally, which began from Khizra Masjid and ended at the Sindh Assembly building, saw participation from people across the city. Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans criticizing the Sindh government and its allies for ignoring Karachi's basic needs. Addressing the crowd, JI Karachi Chief Munem Zafar Khan accused the ruling PPP and MQM of presenting an 'anti-Karachi' budget and sidelining the city in development planning. He said Karachi suffers from a worsening water crisis, crumbling infrastructure, lack of public transport, and power outages. 'Karachi contributes the most to the national and provincial economy but gets nothing in return,' Munem Zafar said, demanding at least Rs500 billion to address the city's pressing issues. He stressed the need for 10,000 buses and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway to ease public transport problems. He criticized the under funding of the K-4 water project, saying only Rs3.2 billion was allocated against a Wapda requirement of Rs40 billion. 'Karachi paid Rs3,000 billion in taxes, but the government can't spare Rs40 billion for water?' he questioned. Munem Zafar also condemned what he called 'rigged' elections and political manipulation in the mayoral race, blaming both PPP and MQM as 'products of Form 47' — a reference to election results he claimed was tampered with. Highlighting stalled infrastructure projects, he pointed to delays and rising costs in the Red Line BRT and KDA underpass schemes, saying they had caused both human and financial losses. He also slammed recent traffic and transport policies, including the ban on four-seater rickshaws and higher penalties for motorbike riders, calling them 'illogical and unfair.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
PPP delegation meets Fazl
ISLAMABAD: A delegation of senior leaders of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Saturday, met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and discussed Budget-2025-26 and the political situation of the country. The PPP delegation comprised Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Chaudhry Manzoor. Haroon Mehmood, Mufti Abrar Ahmed participated in the meeting. The PPP delegation also inquired about the well-being of Maulana Asjad Mahmood. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
