KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said Sindh has been facing an average water shortfall of 11 per cent since the signing of the Water Accord over three decades ago and developing additional canals on the Indus River could threaten the province’s agricultural economy.

Mr Shah was talking to a delegation of the Young Parliamentarian Forum (YPF), which called on him here at CM House on Tuesday. YPF President Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar led the delegation.

According to a press release issued by the CM House, Mr Shah pointed out that historical records indicated that in 1919, Sindh was cultivating four million acres of land using inundation of canals and according to the Sindh Crop Reporting Services’ figures from 2023, the province now irrigated 4.6 million acres through 14 irrigation canals fed by three barrages in Sindh.

From 1976 to 2024, he pointed out, there were only two years when the Indus had surplus water; otherwise the region had been experiencing a continuous shortage.

Murad praises Young Parliamentarian Forum for safeguarding youth rights

The YPF delegation urged the CM to provide them data on available water resources so they could support his cause in parliament.

Parliamentarians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also expressed their intention to raise the issue in the National Assembly.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro and Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani also attended the meeting.

The YPF leaders recognised that health facilities such as Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), National Institute of Child Health (NICH), the Gambat Institute and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) were unparalleled with no match in the country.

In response, the chief minister expressed gratitude for their praise, noting that critics of his government and the PPP often focused on negative aspects.

The parliamentarians urged the CM to develop educational, recreational and career development facilities for the youth.

In reply, the CM stated that his government was in the process of establishing youth centres in every district, which would provide various facilities including sports, career counselling, coaching and reading resources such as digital libraries.

The meeting focused on fostering coordination among legislative bodies, promoting youth welfare and exploring the role of Young Parliamentarians in tackling social challenges such as political polarisation, populism and fake news, said a press release issued by the National Assembly secretariat in Islamabad.

YPF President Nosheen Iftikhar praised the CM for his hospitality and support.

The CM lauded YPF’s for safeguarding the youth rights and ensuring their welfare. He said that the Sindh government has become the first province in Asia to rebuild houses for flood affected people.

He also said that Sindh had taken the lead for constructing the longest bridge, almost 32 km long, in Asia.

He underscored the significance of youth as a substantial part of Pakistan’s population and their vital role in national progress. He also emphasised the importance of collaboration between federal and provincial legislatures to address shared challenges.

He termed the establishment of YPF in the Sindh Assembly as a commendable step towards empowering young political leaders.

Furthermore, he stressed that close coordination between federal and provincial governments was essential for sustainable development.

He stated that YPF would continue to play a key role in addressing youth issues and ensuring their welfare.

Besides Nosheen Iftikhar, the delegation comprised of PYF general secretary Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, information secretary Iqbal Khan, Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, Ali Jan Mazari, Danyal Chaudhary, Raja Osama Sarwar, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Miqdad Ali Khan, Saad Waseem, Salahuddin Junejo, Kiran Imran Dar, Muhammad Saadullah, Usman Ali, Akhtar Bibi, Shaista Khan, Pir Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani, Zulfiqar Bachani, Shamoon Hashmi, Muhammad Mushtaq, Zafar Sultan, Raja Muhammad Ali and Muhammad Nauman.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024