Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has clarified that President Asif Ali Zardari did not approve any new canals in a recent meeting, rejecting claims that Sindh had agreed to canal projects without proper procedure.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Murad Ali Shah said that the issue of water scarcity is a global concern, and Sindh is already facing serious water shortages in the Indus River. He revealed that in January, the Punjab government prepared a proposal during the caretaker setup to rehabilitate the Cholistan area, which included plans for six new canals.

The proposal was sent to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on January 17, 2024, and IRSA granted approval. However, when the project was presented in ECNEC without mentioning Cholistan, Sindh’s representative raised objections.

Murad Ali Shah stated that Sindh had also challenged IRSA’s certification in the Council of Common Interests (CCI), arguing that any such canal project must first be discussed and approved by CCI.

Referring to the meeting chaired by President Zardari, the Sindh CM clarified that the meeting minutes were wrongly used to suggest presidential approval of the canal projects. “President Zardari only agreed that provinces should be consulted and briefed on irrigation matters. No formal approval for canals was given,” he stressed.

The chief minister alleged that the federal authorities used the President’s meeting as a pretext to approve the canals without Sindh’s consent. He reiterated that the Sindh government is actively monitoring irrigation matters and no such project can proceed without constitutional approval.

Murad Ali Shah added, “We have not resorted to agitation; instead, we have taken the constitutional route to protect Sindh’s water rights.”