
Protests against new canals intensify
A severe scarcity of water at Hussainabad exposes the River Indus dry bed, revealing a haunting landscape. The mighty river has been reduced to a shadow of its former glory due to shortage in release of water downstream from upper riparian barrges. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM), amid protests interminably continue across Sindh against the proposed construction of six new canals on the Indus River, blocked the Indus and National highways at three different locations on Friday.
The JSM Chairman Riaz Ali Chandio, who led a protest rally on the National Highway in Moro, Naushehro Feroze district, said they carefully chose April 4 for their protest to neutralise the propaganda being spread by Pakistan Peoples Party.
"Unless the government issues the notification of cancelling all these controversial projects, the protests would continue," he warned.
Chandio reiterated that the Green Pakistan Initiative, new canals and the corporate farming are all meant to rob Sindh of its water and land.
"It is an economic murder of the entire population of Sindh which is dependent on agriculture." He claimed, the PPP is organising cosmetic protests in the province although it has given its consent for the construction of new canals. Dr Niaz Kalani of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) deplored that the people who participate in peaceful protests are being subjected to enforced disappearance besides being nominated in flimsy FIRs. However, he asserted, the protests are becoming stronger with each passing day despite all the pressure tactics being employed by the government.
Meanwhile, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Chairman Dr Qadir Magsi announced that his party would start sit-in protests on the highways in the province from April 10. He said every day a different location of the highways will be selected for the sit-in. "The ongoing protests against the canals and the corporate farming have turned into a movement which won't stop."
In a novel form of protest, a bride made it mandatory for the groom to affix banners rejecting canals at their wedding function in a village in Shahpur Jahania area of Noushehro Feroze district on Friday. The couple, whose marriage was later solemnized in the afternoon, belong to Unar community. Not only banners were put on walls of the wedding hall, but the place reverberated with songs and slogans of nationalists and disapproval for the canals. Rallies and demonstrations were also organised in dozens of other places in many districts of the province.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business Recorder
MCCI suggests steps for water security after Indian aggression
MULTAN: Extolling a number of steps undertaken by the incumbent government for welfare of the people, The Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) urged it to take long term initiatives for water security as it is a matter of existential importance for each Pakistani. Speaking at a post budget news conference here on Tuesday evening, President MCCI, Bakhtawar Tanvir Sheikh, stated, "Water security is an existential threat for us all after recent Indian aggression and the government should devise durable steps for it." He highlighted several initiatives of the government to extend relief to masses including electricity traffic reduction, allocation of heavy funds for BISP, Green Pakistan Initiative, decrease in policy rate from 22 to 11 percent, lessening of inflation etc. 'The economy saw troubled times in the last three years and each strata of society had to face challenges, but now it has improved,' he said, adding that the MCCI congratulates the government for presenting its second budget today. Regarding proposed taxation reforms in the budget for FY205-26, the MCCI president thanked the government for including its proposal in it, adding that undocumented and unregistered business owners should be penalized for evading taxes. 'The government should announce more relief for tax complaints for people who have been paying it for years.' he suggested. Sheikh hailed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) launched by the government and its working for betterment of agriculture, and added that the government has proposed steps for improvement of education in the budget without which no country can progress. On the Information Technology sector, he opined that the government should invest Rs 10 billion dollars in the future after 3.1 bln dollars of IT exports. '70 pc of the population of Pakistan is youth and this sector can open up new avenues for them if government invests more in it.' he insisted. The MCCI president heaped praise on the government for proposing new tax slabs from salaried class in the budget and termed them very helpful for them. Present on the occasion were SVP Khawaja M. Mohsin, former presidents Mian Tanvir A Sheikh, Mian Rashid Iqbal, Khawja M. Hussain, Ex SVPs Asim Saeed and others.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Rs722.48b set aside for BISP, Rs10.23b for Poverty Alleviation Division
A woman shares her ordeal of illegal deduction from BISP allocations allegedly by officials at a government school in New Karachi. Photo: Express Listen to article The government on Tuesday unveiled the budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, outlining allocations for social protection and governance institutions. According to official budget documents, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to receive Rs722.48 billion, reflecting the government's continued emphasis on poverty alleviation. An additional Rs10.23 billion is proposed for the Poverty Alleviation Division, while Rs14.20 billion has been set aside for Pakistan Baitul Mal. The Ministry of Interior and its subordinate departments will receive Rs343.89 billion, including Rs21.26 billion for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rs274.15 billion for the Combined Civil Armed Forces. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is set to get Rs19.12 billion, while Rs1.05 billion has been earmarked for NACTA. Also Read: Finance minister unveils anti-digital, pro-realty sector budget For the Ministry of Law and Justice, Rs23.42 billion has been proposed. The Supreme Court will receive Rs6.64 billion, and the Islamabad High Court Rs2.17 billion. The Election Commission of Pakistan has been allocated Rs9.86 billion. Parliamentary institutions are also receiving significant allocations: • National Assembly: Rs16.29 billion • Senate: Rs9.05 billion • MNAs: Rs5.08 billion for salaries and perks • Parliamentarians' travel expenses: Rs2.50 billion • Chairpersons of Standing Committees: Rs1.24 billion • Speaker and Deputy Speaker: Rs393.4 million • Leader of the Opposition and staff: Rs83.4 million • Senators' salaries and perks: Rs1.0638 billion • Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate and their staff: Rs189.6 million • Senate Standing Committees' Chairpersons: Rs1.44 billion The Prime Minister's Office has been allocated Rs896.5 million, marking an increase of Rs1.795 billion from the previous year. The Prime Minister's Office (Internal) will receive Rs857.7 million, up by Rs1.245 billion. The Prime Minister's Office expenditures are listed at Rs303.5 million, while Rs2.5 billion has been set aside for the President's House, including Rs933.7 million for public office expenses and Rs1.75 billion for personal staff and allowances. Read More: Defence budget hiked by 20.2% to Rs2,550b The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will receive Rs7.41 billion, while the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Supreme Judicial Council are allocated Rs500 million and Rs140 million, respectively. The Railways Division is proposed to receive Rs70.45 billion, underlining the government's focus on infrastructure and connectivity. (With additional reporting by Razia Khan and Amna Ali)


Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Express Tribune
Leaders rally for green Pakistan
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended their heartfelt greetings to the nation on the eve of Eid ul Fitr. PHOTO: EXPRESS On the World Environment Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged every citizen, organization, and public institution to unite for a cleaner, greener Pakistan. In their separate messages, they said the day reminded us of our shared responsibility to protect the planet and secure a sustainable future for the generations to come. "Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Each year, we face devastating floods, droughts, and heatwaves that displace millions of people. Yet, our contribution to global carbon emissions is less than 1%. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for global climate justice and strong international support," President Secretariat Press Wing, in a press release, quoted the president as saying. Despite limited resources, the president said, Pakistan was taking steps to tackle environmental challenges. "We are working to mobilize climate finance by combining national efforts with private investment and international support. Key strategic instruments include: The $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility from the IMF, which supports reforms such as a carbon levy, electric vehicle promotion, and improved energy efficiency: the World Bank's Country Partnership Framework (2026-2035), focused on flood resilience, clean energy transition, sustainable agriculture, and better air quality. The 2024 Carbon Market Policy Guidelines aim to attract green private investment. All these efforts align with Pakistan's broader economic transformation plan — Uraan Pakistan," he added. The president observed that the governments alone could not solve this crisis, stressing that each of them had a role to play. Prime Minister Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling the plastic pollution an environmental challenge threatening ecosystems, economy, and future generations, reaffirmed his government's commitment to eco-friendly policies, responsible consumption, and stricter plastic regulations. "Real change begins with each of us — in our homes, our communities, and our choices," the prime minister said. He said that on the Day, Pakistan joined the international community in reaffirming its commitment to safeguard our planet and pursue sustainable development. The prime minister said that this year's theme — "Putting an End to Plastic Pollution" — was both timely and urgent. "Plastic pollution is an environmental challenge that threatens our ecosystems, our economy, and future generations. From choking our rivers and seas to harming marine life and contaminating our food chain, plastic waste has reached alarming levels across the globe — and Pakistan is no exception. This calls for a bold and collective action," he remarked. He said that the Day should serve as a reminder of our shared responsibility — to ourselves and to the generations yet to come.