KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) staged rallies across Sindh on Wednesday to record protest against federal government’s plan for the construction of six ‘strategic’ canals on the Indus River.

Addressing the participants carrying torches, the PPP leaders described the plan as a threat to the province’s water resources, provincial rights and survival of agriculture. They demanded the project be shelved immediately the plan.

In Karachi, the rallies were taken out in the evening in Safoora Town from Subhan Allah Hotel Road near Mausamiat bus stop in East district, in Sohrab Goth Town from Ahsanabad Chowk to Sohrab Goth intersection, in Keamari district near Naval Colony, in South district near Lyari Gate, in Central district near Power House Chowrangi, in West district near Disco Mor in Orangi Town and in Malir district near Anwar Baloch Hotel near Malir 15, from Quaidabad to Dawood Chowrangi and from Steel Town Allah Wali Chowrangi to Gulshan-i-Hadeed Allah Wali Chowrangi.

A large number of people from all walks of life took part in the rallies, waving flags and banners and raising slogans against the ‘anti-Sindh’ project.

The leaders of the PPP, which was an ally of the federal government, also accused Islamabad of render Sindh barren by diverting its water resources to other regions.

They rejected the new canals project calling it “death sentence” for Sindh, and warned that the canals would obliterate millions of acres of Sindh’s fertile land.

The River Indus was a jugular vein of the province and every soul residing in Sindh would be affected by the construction of the canals, they said.

In Hyderabad, two rallies were staged in City taluka which were led by Pasha Qazi and Aqil Sammo, according to PPP general secretary Waseem Rajput.

In Tando Mohammad Khan, PPP activists staged a rally, which was led by PPP MPA Ejaz Shah and other party leaders at Al-Fatah Chowk.

The leaders said the canals project was aimed at destroying Sindh’s agriculture. PPP would get this project shelved with masses’ support, they said.

Similar rallies were staged in three talukas of Tando Allahyar district, where the leaders said the canals were unacceptable.

In Nawabshah, PPP activists took out a procession which culminated into a demonstration outside local press club. The protesters’ leaders condemned the Centre’s decision of constructing the canals on Indus.

PPP workers and office bearers held similar rallies in Daur, Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Sanghar, Moro, Naushahro Feroze, Mehrabpur and other towns in Naushahro Feroze and Sanghar districts.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2025