Issue at Hand
The construction of six canals on the Indus River system is a matter of grave concern, particularly for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab. These canals, intended to supply water to corporate farming, pose a serious threat to the already fragile water distribution in Pakistan. If constructed, they will deepen existing water shortages, damage ecosystems, and threaten the livelihoods of millions, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan.
The construction of six canals on the Indus River system is a matter of grave concern, particularly for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab. These canals, intended to supply water to corporate farming, pose a serious threat to the already fragile water distribution in Pakistan. If constructed, they will deepen existing water shortages, damage ecosystems, and threaten the livelihoods of millions, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan.
Affected Provinces and Their Understanding
1. Sindh: The Ultimate Sufferer
• Sindh is highly dependent on the Indus River for agriculture, drinking water, and sustaining the Indus Delta.
• Historically, Sindh has suffered from upstream water diversions, resulting in drought-like conditions, seawater intrusion, and the destruction of fertile lands.
• The people of Sindh are fully aware of these consequences, and mass protests are the only way for them to protect their water rights.
1. Sindh: The Ultimate Sufferer
• Sindh is highly dependent on the Indus River for agriculture, drinking water, and sustaining the Indus Delta.
• Historically, Sindh has suffered from upstream water diversions, resulting in drought-like conditions, seawater intrusion, and the destruction of fertile lands.
• The people of Sindh are fully aware of these consequences, and mass protests are the only way for them to protect their water rights.
2. Balochistan: Aware but Lacking Mass Mobilization
• Balochistan also depends on the Indus River for irrigation in its canal-fed areas.
• The province suffers from a lack of political representation and mass mobilisation.
• While experts and policymakers understand the issue, there has been no large-scale protest to highlight the concerns of Balochistan’s farmers and communities.
3. Punjab: Farmers Misled About Their Security
• Farmers and growers in Punjab believe that their water supply will remain unaffected.
• However, in reality, corporate farming will take precedence, and small-scale farmers will suffer from reduced water availability.
• Without intervention, Punjab’s small farmers will face higher water costs, lower yields, and increased dependency on groundwater.
• Balochistan also depends on the Indus River for irrigation in its canal-fed areas.
• The province suffers from a lack of political representation and mass mobilisation.
• While experts and policymakers understand the issue, there has been no large-scale protest to highlight the concerns of Balochistan’s farmers and communities.
3. Punjab: Farmers Misled About Their Security
• Farmers and growers in Punjab believe that their water supply will remain unaffected.
• However, in reality, corporate farming will take precedence, and small-scale farmers will suffer from reduced water availability.
• Without intervention, Punjab’s small farmers will face higher water costs, lower yields, and increased dependency on groundwater.
Crisis
• Sindh will suffer extreme water shortages, affecting agriculture and the Indus Delta, further worsening climate vulnerability.
• Balochistan’s agricultural lands will dry up, leading to more food insecurity and economic hardships.
• Punjab’s small farmers will face water theft by corporate interests, leading to a monopolisation of agricultural resources.
• The Indus Delta will shrink further, accelerating seawater intrusion and destroying thousands of acres of land.
• Sindh will suffer extreme water shortages, affecting agriculture and the Indus Delta, further worsening climate vulnerability.
• Balochistan’s agricultural lands will dry up, leading to more food insecurity and economic hardships.
• Punjab’s small farmers will face water theft by corporate interests, leading to a monopolisation of agricultural resources.
• The Indus Delta will shrink further, accelerating seawater intrusion and destroying thousands of acres of land.
How to Mobilize People for Action
1. Raising Awareness at the Grassroots Level
• Organize community dialogues in villages, towns, and cities across Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab.
• Use local languages and simple messaging to explain how the water crisis will impact daily life.
• Leverage social media, radio, and television to spread awareness.
• Organize community dialogues in villages, towns, and cities across Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab.
• Use local languages and simple messaging to explain how the water crisis will impact daily life.
• Leverage social media, radio, and television to spread awareness.
2. Building Alliances Across Provinces
• Sindh and Balochistan must form a united front to pressure the government and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA).
• Farmers in Punjab need to be engaged so they understand that their long-term water security is at risk.
• Political representatives, farmer organizations, and civil society groups must be brought together under a single platform.
• Sindh and Balochistan must form a united front to pressure the government and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA).
• Farmers in Punjab need to be engaged so they understand that their long-term water security is at risk.
• Political representatives, farmer organizations, and civil society groups must be brought together under a single platform.
3. Mass Mobilization and Legal Action
• Organizing peaceful protests and rallies to demonstrate public resistance.
• Filing petitions in the Supreme Court and Water Tribunals to legally challenge these canals.
• Demanding parliamentary debates and public hearings to expose the real motives behind corporate farming.
• Organizing peaceful protests and rallies to demonstrate public resistance.
• Filing petitions in the Supreme Court and Water Tribunals to legally challenge these canals.
• Demanding parliamentary debates and public hearings to expose the real motives behind corporate farming.
4. Engaging Media and Influencers
• Journalists, activists, and experts must continuously highlight the issue in newspapers, TV channels, and digital platforms.
• Engage influencers and intellectuals to create public pressure against unjust water allocations.
• Journalists, activists, and experts must continuously highlight the issue in newspapers, TV channels, and digital platforms.
• Engage influencers and intellectuals to create public pressure against unjust water allocations.
5. Highlighting Environmental Impact
• Show how water shortages will worsen droughts, heatwaves, and desertification.
• Demand climate justice by linking this issue to Pakistan’s international commitments to sustainable water management.
• Show how water shortages will worsen droughts, heatwaves, and desertification.
• Demand climate justice by linking this issue to Pakistan’s international commitments to sustainable water management.
The construction of these six canals is not just an issue for Sindh—it is a national crisis that threatens water security, food security, and rural livelihoods across Pakistan. Mass mobilization, legal resistance, and political pressure are essential to prevent this disaster. Every citizen, especially farmers and water-dependent communities must come together to protect their right to water and survival.
