Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has issued a stern warning that if the contentious canal project advances without the approval of Sindh’s authorities, the province’s citizens will be compelled to rally in the streets.
After paying his respects at Cardinal House following the passing of Pope Francis, CM Shah addressed the media, underscoring that any project detrimental to the welfare of Sindh’s people would not be tolerated.
He made it clear that it doesn’t matter who initiated this project—the Sindh government has not sanctioned it. Since July, there has been no progress on the Cholistan canals, and the Pakistan People’s Party has strongly opposed the project at every stage.
Shah insisted, “We’re not questioning anyone’s motives, but neither are we going to be used. This is a shared cause, and we are resolute in our efforts to halt the canal project for the greater benefit of the nation.”
Expressing worry over the plight of farmers, Shah mentioned that farmers in Punjab might decide against growing wheat next year, emphasizing the urgent need to implement modern agricultural technologies, such as those used in China with significantly higher wheat yields per acre.
He also criticized the stagnation in cotton production, urging a factual analysis of the impacts of India’s Indira Canal through AI tools like ChatGPT.
The Chief Minister called on all stakeholders in Sindh to protest against the canal plan but to do so peacefully, avoiding road closures that would disrupt daily life for residents.
He ended his message with a hopeful note, expressing optimism that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would take Sindh’s concerns seriously and arrive at a fair decision, reminiscing that even during British colonial rule, canal ventures in upper regions were vetoed if they endangered the downstream areas.