Karachi: Central Information Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Shazia Marri, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent opening of the Taunsa-Panjnad (TP) Link Canal. This development comes at a time when Sindh is experiencing a severe 62% water shortage.
In a press statement, Marri questioned the decision to open the canal amid the ongoing crisis. “At a time when Sindh is facing a devastating 62% water shortage, why is the Taunsa Panjnad canal opened?” she asked.
Marri emphasized the intended use of the TP Link Canal, stating that such canals were never meant to operate throughout the year. “The link canals were never supposed to be perennial. They could only be opened during the flood season,” she asserted.
She warned that the canal’s operation during the shortage would further deprive lower riparian regions of their water share, worsening the situation. “Opening of the TP Link Canal during a shortage period will further increase the water shortage for the lower riparians and cause more harm,” she said.
Marri reiterated the PPP’s call for equitable distribution of water resources among provinces, advocating for the implementation of the 1991 Water Accord. She urged the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to fulfill its responsibilities.
“The Sindh Irrigation Department has rightly lodged a strong protest with IRSA over the untimely opening of the TP Link Canal,” she noted.
Marri dismissed any water diversion as “unjust and irresponsible,” especially during the current shortage. “Water is not a political tool-it is a constitutional right,” she stressed.
She highlighted the broader impact on Sindh’s agriculture, economy, and communities, calling the situation a threat to the lifeline of the province.
Marri criticized the federal government’s silence, demanding immediate closure of the TP Link Canal. She called on IRSA and the federal government to ensure compliance with agreed frameworks.
“The Pakistan People’s Party stands with the people and will not allow any province’s rightful share of water to be stolen,” Marri declared.
She also criticized the government’s failure to hold a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, calling it a constitutional obligation that has been neglected.
Marri vowed to oppose the construction of new canals on the River Indus during the water crisis, questioning the logic of such projects when resources are scarce.
“We will raise this issue in Parliament, in IRSA, and in every relevant forum to safeguard Sindh’s water rights and uphold the federation’s integrity,” she affirmed.