UMERKOT: A seminar organised by the Sindh United Party (SUP) in Umerkot on Friday strongly criticised federal government’s policies, especially those concerning distribution of water, revenues and other resources among provinces.

Presided over by SUP President Syed Zain Shah, the seminar noted with serious concern that the PPP government in Sindh was not effectively advocating its case despite realising that federal policies were extremely harmful to Sindh’s interests.

Zain Shah said that official figures put the water shortage in Sindh at 29 per cent which is alarming, but the federal authorities were allowing new canals to draw the Indus water which, he said, would further aggravate the shortage.

He said that the plans to expand command areas through new canals were inconsistent with ground reality. He also accused the federal authorities of diverting Sindh’s water to other regions. He called for the restoration of forests and stronger measures to address environmental pollution being caused by industrial projects, including those linked to the Thar Coal project.

Seminar organised by SUP raps PPP for not effectively protecting Sindh’s interests

Mr Shah deplored that locals’ lands in various districts of Sindh had been allotted to corporate sector and foreign investors under the Green Pakistan Initiative.

He also called for reforms in institutions, including the Sindh Public Service Commission, and stressed the need for practical measures rather than statements to address public issues.

The SUP leader also criticised the federal government for retaining the entire revenues collected through the petroleum levy, thereby depriving provinces of their due share under the NFC Award. He claimed that the Centre intended to collect Rs960 billion from provinces over the next three years, and criticised the Sindh government for not effectively resisting the move.

He further alleged that development allocations for Sindh were being curtailed while federal authorities intended to divert resources towards defence and controversial water projects.

The seminar also discussed Sindh’s case vis-à-vis the National Finance Commission Award.

PTI leader Lal Malhi, PML-F leader Ghazi Khan Samoon, Umerkot Bar Association President Azhar Arain, farming community leaders Zahid Noon, Danesh Malhi, as well as Comrade Roshan Mangrio and people from different walks of life attended the seminar.

Lal Malhi said constitutional supremacy in the country was facing serious challenges and alleged that those who were supposed to protect the Constitution were themselves violating the Constitution.

He said Sindh’s concerns regarding water distribution were justified, and warned that construction of proposed canals could adversely affect the province’s agricultural and economic interests.

Mr Malhi expressed his party’s full support to SUP’s sustained campaign against the six canals, and emphasised that water distribution should be carried out in accordance with the Constitution and with consensus of all provinces.

Through several resolutions, the seminar called for a review of federal policies, protection of provincial rights under the NFC Award, equitable distribution of water resources, safeguarding of local communities’ rights over Sindh’s resources, and public consultation before implementation of controversial plans, including the six canal project.

The seminar participants discussed several other pressing issues being faced by Sindh, and called for effective measures by the federal authorities to address them.

They also urged the Sindh government to effectively plead the case of Sindh at different forums, including the Indus River System Authority and Council of Common Interests.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2026