Synopsis
Protests across Sindh, Pakistan, oppose canal constructions on the Indus River, highlighting ecological and socio-economic threats. Activists demand justice and an end to projects affecting water flow, agriculture, and urban water supply.Key Takeaways
- Protests against canal constructions on the Indus River.
- Sindh activists demand to protect water resources.
- Seminar highlights ecological threats posed by projects.
- Save Indus River Movement calls for justice.
- Widespread public dissent against government policies.
Sindh, March 15 (NationPress) Protests have ignited throughout the Sindh province of Pakistan in response to the construction of canals on the Indus River, with resounding calls to "let the water flow."
On Friday, a seminar titled 'Indus River: The Lifeline of Sindh Under Threat' was organized by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) along with a youth organization at the press club in Karachi. This event aligned with the 'International Action Day for Rivers.'
Speakers at the seminar underscored the escalating ecological and socio-economic issues resulting from the degradation of the Indus River, as reported by local media.
Meanwhile, a significant number of fisherwomen and men, accompanied by political and human rights activists, joined the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum's rally opposing the Cholistan project and other canals on the Indus River.
The rally's demand was clear: 'No Canals, No Dams, and No Cuts' on the Indus River.
Protests and rallies across the province witnessed an unusually large turnout, as participants urged an end to the plans for six additional canals on the river, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Earlier this week, the Save Indus River Movement (SIRM) rejected claims made by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari during a joint parliamentary session regarding the canal constructions, announcing province-wide protests against what they labeled as "unconstitutional projects."
SIRM leaders criticized President Zardari for allegedly endorsing the canal projects, demanding that the Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) withdraw from the federal government.
SIRM Convener Syed Zain Shah cautioned that the agriculture sector in Sindh would suffer severely, urban areas would face a critical water shortage, ecosystems would collapse due to the Indus River's drying, and underground water resources would diminish, favoring only corporate interests.
He dismissed President Zardari's remarks on the canal projects and insisted that, rather than making vague declarations, the President should retract the notification approving the new canals.
According to Syed Zain Shah, the unjust decisions made by the Pakistani government have jeopardized the state's existence, rendering justice nearly unattainable, as reported by daily Dawn.
In February, expressions of dissent against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River were reiterated by nationalist parties in Sindh, leading them to organize protests and block highways in various regions of the province.
Recently, Pakistan has experienced a surge in protests, with citizens voicing their concerns against what they perceive as "anti-people policies" and violations of Sindh's rights.
