What sparked the violent unrest in Sindh over the Indus canal project?

Islamabad/New Delhi, June 5 (NationPress) Despite Pakistan reaching a fragile peace with India after military tensions along the border following the tragic Pahalgam massacre, the government is simultaneously grappling with numerous internal issues. The rise in activities by insurgent factions like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan has already diminished the military establishment's popularity, legitimacy, and morale.

In Sindh, widespread protests against the federal government's proposed Indus canal project, ongoing for months, have erupted into violence. Instead of addressing these concerns politically, the regime chose a brutal response, resulting in the deaths of two activists and inciting demonstrators to set ablaze the residence of Sindh’s Interior Minister, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar.

For decades, Sindh has been a hotbed of discontent, consistently voicing grievances over federal discrimination and political marginalization favoring the dominant Punjab. Central to the conflict between Sindh and Punjab is the issue of water, particularly concerning the Indus River.

The recent protests were sparked by the federal government's decree to construct six strategic canals aimed at alleviating agricultural underdevelopment and food insecurity nationwide. Although the regime agreed to suspend the project in April due to ongoing protests until a consensus was reached among provinces, accusations of secretive construction efforts persisted.

Public anger escalated, leading to a harsh crackdown that culminated in the shooting of Zahid Laghari, a prominent activist of the Sindhi nationalist group Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM). This resulted in protestors blocking a crucial national highway, setting oil tankers ablaze, and patrolling the area armed with AK-47 rifles.

This canal project is part of the broader Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), launched in July 2023 to modernize the country's agricultural sector. Agriculture is essential to Pakistan's economy, contributing 25 percent to GDP and employing 37 percent of the workforce. The initiative aims to promote modern farming techniques, attract investment, and transform barren lands into productive areas.

In June 2024, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the construction of six canals as part of GPI, with two planned for each of the provinces: Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. Among these, the Cholistan canal has faced significant opposition in Sindh, as residents fear it will divert substantial water from the Indus, jeopardizing the province's equitable share. Despite government assurances that the canal will be built along the Sutlej River under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and utilize surplus monsoon flows, Sindhi leaders have disputed this claim, highlighting the low flow levels of the Sutlej.

Despite being home to the country’s financial hub, Karachi, and making a significant contribution to the national economy, Sindh remains marginalized by federal policies that systematically overlook its interests. Agriculture constitutes 17 percent of Sindh’s economy, with 77 percent of its farmland depending on irrigation from the Indus River. The Indus is crucial for the province, serving not only as a vital water source for agriculture and daily life but also preventing the intrusion of Arabian Sea water, sustaining the mangrove forests in the delta, and preserving ancient ecosystems.

Given that Sindh has long claimed it receives far less water than stipulated under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord, the diminishing flow of the Indus has led to severe consequences, including salinization and erosion of agricultural lands, destruction of livelihoods, and mass displacement of communities. The province is still recovering from the disastrous 2022 floods, which devastated around 4.4 million acres of farmland and resulted in nearly 800 deaths. Therefore, it is understandable that the populace has vehemently opposed efforts to further deprive them of their rightful share and fundamental source of sustenance. Nabi Bux Sathio, Vice President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, expressed that the Cholistan canal would 'ruin 12 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh to irrigate just 1.2 million acres of desert in Punjab.'

Thus, the Pakistani government must address the grievances of the Sindhi populace with the utmost sensitivity and accountability, rather than resorting to violent repression. Instead of viewing the issue as a mere provincial concern, the regime must adopt a comprehensive perspective, acknowledging its dependence on its diverse constituents. With escalating demands for provincial autonomy and government accountability across all provinces except Punjab, Pakistan must confront the gravity of the situation with rationality.