Islamabad: Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Senator Sherry Rehman, has called for an immediate meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to address the pressing water crisis impacting three provinces, including Sindh. Rehman also urged the suspension of plans for controversial canal projects, warning that these could exacerbate inter-provincial tensions.
Addressing media outside Parliament House, Senator Rehman highlighted a historic decline in water flows in the Indus River, questioning the government’s ability to source water for the proposed canals. She emphasized that the PPP leadership, including Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari, has consistently opposed canal constructions without consensus, labeling it a critical issue for downstream communities.
Rehman stressed that water scarcity is a national emergency affecting all citizens and livelihoods. “Without water, our agriculture, livestock, and economy cannot function. We are demanding our constitutional and moral right to fair water distribution,” she stated.
She urged the government to tackle the issue through institutional mechanisms rather than temporary political resolutions. “The issue must be resolved in the CCI, not through backdoor negotiations. We must act now to avoid further damage to national unity,” Rehman added.
Focusing on the drought-hit districts like Badin, Thatta, and Sujawal, Rehman warned of growing discontent among farmers and local communities. She asserted the PPP’s commitment to defending basic rights, including water rights, through peaceful resistance if necessary.
Senator Rehman also questioned the validity of recent IRSA reports and criticized the lack of transparency in water allocations. She emphasized that unilateral diversion of any province’s water share undermines cooperative federalism and constitutes injustice.
In concluding her remarks, Rehman called for urgent resolution through dialogue and adherence to constitutional principles, expressing hope that reason would prevail.