Protests Over Canal Construction Disrupts Sindh-Punjab Traffic for 10th Day

KHAIRPUR: A continuous sit-in protest organized by legal professionals and members of civil society against the projected construction of six canals originating from the Indus River has now entered its tenth day. This demonstration has completely halted vehicular traffic between Sindh and Punjab along the National Highway.

The ongoing demonstration has attracted substantial participation, with legal professionals and civil society activists collectively voicing their objections to the planned canal projects.

The ongoing blockade of the National Highway has resulted in a complete standstill of vehicular transit between the two provinces over the past ten days.

This blockade has critically hampered the movement of essential supplies, such as fuel and food products, leaving numerous trucks and trailers immobilized. The situation has escalated difficulties for both commuters and freight operators.

Drivers of heavy containers caught in the blockade have indicated that their vehicle tires are suffering damage due to the extended periods of inactivity.

Demonstrators have pledged to continue their protest until formal notification of the project’s termination is issued, despite assurances from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that construction would not proceed without consensus.

PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari convened a crucial meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, following weeks of increasing unrest across Sindh.

During a joint press briefing, the Prime Minister stated that no canals would be built absent a consensus within the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

He affirmed that the upcoming CCI meeting, scheduled for May 2, would formally ratify the agreement reached with the PPP.

Demonstrations are actively taking place at multiple points along the National Highway.

The sit-in protesting the Indus River canal project has also entered its eighth day near Mangrio Pump on the National Highway in Daharki, Ghotki.

Activists representing nationalist parties, along with various political and social organizations, continue to participate in the ongoing demonstration.

Separately, a lawyers’ protest near Kamoon Shaheed at the Sindh-Punjab border has reached its fifth day, adding to the regional traffic complications. Protesters remain resolute in their opposition to the canal project, advocating for a reassessment of its potential consequences.

Currently, there is no imminent resolution to the traffic disruptions. Authorities have yet to announce any advances in negotiations aimed at resolving the situation and reopening the essential transportation route.

Furthermore, a significant gathering of lawyers protested against canal construction on the Gulshan-e-Hadeed Link Road, causing substantial traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.

Law enforcement sources reported that police deployed baton charges to disperse the demonstrators, resulting in injuries to one lawyer. Subsequently, a large contingent of lawyers assembled outside the Steel Town Police Station, maintaining a tense atmosphere in the area.