KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key member of the ruling coalition government, this week threatened to withdraw its support for the government if Islamabad did not back down from its controversial decision to construct new canals on the Indus River, amid fears of the project triggering water shortages in the country’s southern Sindh province.
Pakistan’s federal government has launched an ambitious project that aims to build canals across the country’s four provinces, which it says will help irrigate millions of acres of barren land and prevent food insecurity in the country. The move has triggered protests in Sindh where nationalist parties believe the initiative would cause water shortages, while critics say the project was planned without consent from stakeholders.
The PPP emerged as the second-largest political party after the controversial 2024 general election in Pakistan. It helped Shehbaz Sharif get elected as Pakistan’s prime minister for a second time and settled for the presidency and the governorship in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, areas where it performed poorly in the national polls. If the PPP withdraws its support, Sharif’s coalition government would no longer have the majority in parliament.
“Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has taken a resolute stance, emphatically calling on the federal government to immediately abandon its controversial plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River,” the party’s media cell said in a statement on Friday.
“He warned that if the project is not abandoned, it will no longer be possible for the PPP to continue supporting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government,” the statement added.
Bhutto Zardari was speaking at a rally organized by the PPP in Sindh’s Hyderabad city. Speaking to charged supporters of the party, Bhutto Zardari said he would stand with the people “if I am ever forced to choose between the government and the people.”
The PPP chairman said his party does not believe in “opposition for the sake of opposition” and it is opposing the controversial canal project because it poses a threat to the federation.
He said that at a time when militant organizations were increasing attacks in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces, the government has stirred a matter that threatens people with “death by thirst.”
Bhutto Zardari criticized Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party and its governments, calling their policies anti-farmer and anti-agriculture. He questioned the logic to build more water canals in the country when Pakistan was already suffering from a water crisis.
“Let the government stop this canals plan, and we will present a 50-year roadmap for agricultural development,” he said. “Why would I not want to see progress in Tharparkar and Cholistan? But I will never compromise on the River Indus.”
The PPP chairman said the party would hold a protest rally in Sindh’s Sukkur city on Apr. 25 against the controversial project.
Key Pakistan ruling coalition ally threatens to withdraw government support over canals issue
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Key Pakistan ruling coalition ally threatens to withdraw government support over canals issue
- Federal government’s move to construct new canals on River Indus has triggered protests in Sindh
- Pakistan Peoples Party chairman says canals project threatens people of Sindh with “death by thirst”
Met Office forecasts ‘widespread’ rain, snowfall in parts of Pakistan
- Heavy snowfall may cause road closures, while there is a possibility of landslides and avalanche in hilly areas
- Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious, avoid unnecessary travel during forecast period, Met Office says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast “widespread” rain and snowfall in northern parts of the country in the coming days, saying that a shallow westerly wave was likely to reach the upper regions on Friday.
The weather system is likely to strengthen from Jan. 20 and grip most parts of the country from Jan. 21, bringing rain, thunderstorm and snowfall to several areas, according to a PMD advisory. Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree and Galliyat will experience rain/thunderstorm with light to moderate snowfalls Jan. 16 till Jan. 20, with occasional gaps.
Widespread rain/thunderstorm is expected in these areas along with Islamabad, and Punjab’s Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Faisalabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions, as well as KP’s Peshawar, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan districts on Jan. 20-23.
“Heavy snowfall is expected [in] Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Shangla, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot from 20th (night) to 23rd January with occasional gaps,” the PMD said.
Similarly, rain/thunderstorm is expected in Balochistan’s Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Musakhel, Turbat, Gawadar, Jiwani, Lasbella, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Washuk and Kharan districts on Jan. 21-22.
Karachi, Hyderabad, Dadu, Jacobabad, Naushero Feroz, Kashmore, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirbad, Mirpurkhas and Ghotki in Sindh are likely to receive rain with occasional gaps on Jan. 22-23.
“Moderate to heavy snowfall in (Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Noushki, Harnai, Zhob) during the period,” the PMD said.
Heavy snowfall may cause road closures and slippery conditions in Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai and Zhob, according to the PMD.
There is a possibility of landslides and avalanche in hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during this period.
“Tourists are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary traveling during the forecast period,” it said.
“Fog condition is likely to diminish in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Sindh during the wet spell. Day time temperatures are likely to drop significantly during the period.”
