Sindh Canal Project Protests Disrupt Life, Business

Demonstrations against the proposed Indus River canal initiative are intensifying throughout Sindh, resulting in disruptions to road transport and court activities in multiple districts.

Attorneys have stated their ongoing sit-ins will only cease once the government officially rescinds the project.

  • In Khairpur, lawyers have been staging a sit-in for nine days at the Babarlou Bypass on the National Highway.
  • In Ghotki, separate sit-ins are being conducted by nationalist factions at the Mangrio Pump location near Daharki, and by legal professionals at the Sindh-Punjab boundary close to Kamo Shaheed.

Both groups have pledged to continue their demonstrations until formal confirmation of the project’s cancellation is issued, despite assurances from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that no construction will commence without consensus.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari convened a significant meeting in Islamabad this past Thursday, following weeks of growing tensions in Sindh.

During a joint press briefing, the Prime Minister stated that any construction of canals would require agreement within the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

He also confirmed that the upcoming CCI meeting scheduled for May 2 would formally approve the understanding reached with the PPP.

The ongoing protests, which have garnered support from civil society members, have completely halted the movement of goods between Sindh and Punjab.

The Sindh Bar Council’s province-wide strike has severely impacted legal proceedings. Courts in various cities, including Hyderabad, Larkana, Nawabshah, and Jacobabad, experienced boycotts, with the City Court remaining closed even on Friday. Numerous cases were postponed, causing distress to litigants.

The transport disruption has affected areas beyond Sindh. In Faisalabad, more than 1,000 containers filled with textile sector export and import goods are stranded due to road blockages in Sindh, creating a critical raw material shortage and disrupting factory output.

Officials at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce reported that two export ships have already been missed, affecting exports planned for two weeks prior.

The chamber president described the circumstances as critical and urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to intervene immediately.

He emphasized that continued disruptions could significantly harm Pakistan’s economy and appealed for swift action from all relevant authorities to restore normalcy.

“While we appreciate the government’s efforts to improve the situation, these incidents are harming our exports,” he stated.