Nationalists, intellectuals reject six water canals
The six water canals being constructed on the Indus River will not only destroy Sindh's agriculture but will also parch urban areas, including Karachi.
In the Sindh Unity Conference organized by Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, the speakers demanded the government to allow Sindh's rightful share of the water. "It is not only for our agriculture but we won't have water to drink," JSM's Riaz Chandio said.
"People in urban areas believe that construction of six canals on the river is a purely issue related to the rural areas," he explained. But, he added, people living Sindh's urban areas especially in Hyderabad and Karachi will face the consequences more than those who live in far flung areas. He appealed Karachiites to take collective action against the project.
Rejection the six canals he strongly demanded the government that Sindh must receive its due share of water as per the 1991 Water Accord.
The participants urged the United Nations to recognize the Indus River as a living entity, similar to the Magpie River in Canada and other protected rivers worldwide.
In the resolution passed by the conference' participants, they condemned the retaliatory actions of the PPP-led government and demanded the immediate release of Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi.
The conference was attended by Dr Safdar Abbasi, Sardar Abdul Rahim, Husnain Mirza, Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Dr Kaiser Bengali, Syed Khuda Dino Shah, Manzoor Mirani, Shahab Osto, Dr Ali Hassan Bhutto, Aamir Fayaz Warraich, Naeem Qureshi Advocate and others.
The conference also held responsible the provincial and federal governments for rising road accidents. They also condemned the recent accidents in the city, demanding a crackdown on the dumper mafia.
The participants also discussed the prevailing law and order situation in Sukkur and Larkana divisions, affecting hundreds of people.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
NA passes acid, fire attack prevention bill
Listen to article The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Acid and Fire Attack Prevention Bill 2024, prescribing the death penalty or up to seven years' imprisonment for perpetrators, and up to two years' jail or a fine for police officers found guilty of faulty investigation. The bill, moved by PPP lawmaker Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, seeks to prevent acid and burn attacks, ensure swift justice and provide rehabilitation to victims. It mandates that relevant courts conclude all such cases within 60 days. Key provisions include free medical treatment for victims in government hospitals, the establishment of rehabilitation centres and the provision of free legal aid. An acid and burn crime monitoring board will be set up with at least 33% female representation. Moreover, the legislation requires special protection measures for victims and witnesses, and stipulates financial assistance for children and dependents of victims until they become self-reliant. Walkout over Imran's prison meetings Earlier in the day, the session, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, was marked by an opposition walkout over the denial of meetings between the imprisoned PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and five MNAs waiting outside Adiala Jail. PTI's Asad Qaiser claimed that the move was a breach of members' privilege. The speaker urged both sides to hold talks, offering himself as a bridge between the government and opposition. 'There is no grander jirga than the National Assembly and Senate. I am ready to play the role of a bridge,' he said. He proposed a negotiating team from the government comprising Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Talal Chaudhry and Syed Naveed Qamar, while urging the opposition to name its representatives. Tarar said the prison meeting issue was procedural but could be resolved through dialogue. PTI's Malik Amir Dogar agreed to consult his party before finalising names. Despite repeated requests from the speaker not to stage a walkout, opposition lawmakers left the chamber, returning shortly afterwards to declare it a symbolic protest. They then pointed out the quorum, which was found to be complete. Five bills passed, one sent back The House passed five bills: the Lawyers and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill 2025, the National Institute of Health (Reorganisation) Amendment Bill 2025, the Acid and Fire Attack Prevention Bill 2024, the Allocation of Reserved University Seats Bill 2024 and the Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill 2025. It also initially passed the Journalists' Protection (Amendment) Bill 2025, but on the intervention of Law Minister Tarar, the approval was withdrawn, and the bill was referred back to the relevant standing committee for further consideration. The session was adjourned until 11 am Wednesday.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM to India: no compromise on our water share
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday warned India against choking Pakistan's share of Indus River waters, vowing that not 'a single drop' would be allowed to be stolen. Declaring water the nation's lifeblood, he vowed a decisive response to any attempt to cut the flow amid escalating tensions over New Delhi's move to put the Indus Waters Treaty 'in abeyance', a step Islamabad has condemned as an act of war. 'I want to tell the enemy today that if you threaten to hold our water, then keep this in mind that you cannot snatch even one drop from Pakistan,' he said while speaking at a ceremony in the capital on the occasion of International Youth Day. 'You threaten to stop our water. If you attempt such a move, Pakistan will teach you a lesson you will never forget," he added. Terming water the lifeblood of the nation, the premier asserted there would be 'no compromise' on Pakistan's rights under international accords. He added that a 'new Pakistan' had emerged after the armed forces dealt India a setback on May 10, when the Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian fighter jets, a historic moment for the nation. The premier's remarks came amid India's warning to dry out Pakistan, waging a 'hydel war' against the country. In April, New Delhi announced that it was placing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 'in abeyance' following an attack in Pahalgam, in occupied Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives — an incident the Modi-led government, without providing evidence, attributed to Islamabad. Pakistan condemned any move to halt its allocated water flow as an 'act of war', stressing that the IWT contains no clause allowing unilateral suspension. It later signalled the possibility of taking the matter to court, alleging the move breached the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, through a supplemental award, ruled that India had no authority to unilaterally suspend the treaty. India, for its part, rejected the court's jurisdiction and refused to accept its rulings. On Monday, the PCA issued an 'Award on Issues of General Interpretation of the IWT' in the Indus Waters case, making clear that India is obliged to 'let flow' the waters of the western rivers for Pakistan's 'unrestricted use'. During his address on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz also announced that 100,000 laptops would be distributed to students on an interest-free and merit-only basis. 'This government believes in transparency and merit, and we will ensure both in the distribution process,' he said. Stressing that the torch of the nation's future was in the hands of its youth, the premier reaffirmed his government's resolve to empower young people through education and technology. He also congratulated the nation ahead of Independence Day and lauded the role of minorities and all segments of society in Pakistan's creation and progress. Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said the government was taking 'effective measures' for the protection of minorities. 'All citizens have equal rights as per the Constitution,' he said, adding that a 5% quota in jobs had been set for minorities to ensure representation and promote interfaith harmony. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Khel Das Kohistani stressed that Islam respects all religions and that the Constitution safeguards the rights of all citizens. 'The prime minister is taking the country forward in line with the vision of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,' he said. Chairman PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Khan recalled that Pakistan's first youth policy was introduced in 2011 by then–chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. Laptops, soft loans and scholarships were provided to talented students, while the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund – now expanded to the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund – was launched to benefit students nationwide. 'Every child in Pakistan can benefit from this initiative,' he said. Solar power push in G-B Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz chaired a review meeting following ECNEC's approval of a 100-megawatt solar power project for Gilgit-Baltistan. He directed that the project be completed within a year, pledging to personally monitor its progress. The premier said the initiative would be given top priority to provide uninterrupted, low-cost, and environmentally friendly electricity to the region, which suffers from load-shedding of up to 20 hours a day. 'All infrastructure for the project must be climate-resilient,' he ordered, adding that transparency would be ensured at every stage. The federal government will bear the entire cost of the project, which will see six solar parks in Gilgit, eight in Skardu, and six in Diamer. Solar installations will be fitted on 234 buildings in Gilgit, 179 in Skardu and 68 in Diamer. Battery storage for backup supply and a real-time monitoring system will be part of the scheme, which will adhere to international standards. Calling solarisation the silver bullet for the region's energy crisis, he said integrating renewable energy into the national grid was vital to counter climate change. 'Lighting up Gilgit-Baltistan is not just an infrastructure project; it is a lifeline for its people,' he added. He also directed that hydel and solar generation in the region be planned to ensure an uninterrupted supply during extreme weather. The steering committee will be chaired by Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, with Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Khan Cheema, PM's Coordinator Musharraf Zaidi, renewable energy expert Dr Gerwin Dreesmann and senior officials in attendance.
Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
27th Amendment ‘on the cards'?: Bilawal dismisses ‘baseless rumours'
KARACHI: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday dismissed talk of any potential legislation regarding a 27th constitutional amendment as 'baseless rumours'. Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad about the matter, Bilawal addressed the 'baseless rumours', stating: 'So far, no federal minister, prime minister or party member has approached me regarding any amendments.' He also highlighted that the 26th Amendment was passed after reaching a consensus with compromise from political parties. 'PPP wanted constitutional courts, but we compromised,' he said. In a post on X, the PPP quoted him as saying, 'The 26th Constitutional Amendment is an eternal success. Judicial reforms and constitutional courts were a demand of the Charter of Democracy, but we prioritised a constitutional bench over a constitutional court for the sake of consensus.' Though the speculations are rife, there has been no official word regarding the 27th Constitutional Amendment. At present, the proposal to further reform the judiciary is at a very initial stage, but consultations are reportedly underway within the ruling PML-N and some legal circles. Despite these purported consultations, any draft for this proposed bill has yet to see the light of day. While responding to a question about amending the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, Bilawal said, 'Absolutely. Further changes must come in NFC.' He continued, 'The previous NFC award was given before passing the 18th Amendment, which was before 2010.' He said that various responsibilities of the federal government were handed to the provinces, adding, 'But the NFC is the same as it was prior to the 18th Amendment.' The PPP chairman continued, 'The Constitution says that the NFC award must be regularly given after five years. It is already mentioned that the shares of provincial governments cannot be reduced in new NFC awards.' 'All provinces must be given more resources as per the increased responsibilities after the 18th Amendment.' He added, 'We must immediately call NFC and give new awards. All provinces must be given resources according to the 18th Amendment.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
