Global Watch | Water Wars In Pakistan: Sindh’s Struggle Against Systemic Exploitation
Sindh’s protests against the proposed canals are not merely about water; they are a manifestation of the province’s broader struggle for justice and equity
The Sindh province of Pakistan is once again embroiled in protests over a proposed plan by the federal government that threatens to exacerbate its already strained water resources, imperilling the livelihoods of countless farmers.
On 15 December 2024, workers from the Sindh United Party and the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, alongside other political entities, organisations, and ordinary citizens, marched an arduous 18 kilometres on foot to demand the cancellation of six new canals proposed for construction on the Indus River. These protests, which have rocked Sindh since October, have brought together a diverse coalition of social formations, human rights organisations, and political parties.
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Even the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), often aligned with the federal government, has categorically opposed the controversial canals. The crux of the issue lies in allegations that the canals, intended to irrigate agricultural lands in Punjab’s Cholistan region, will divert water away from the lower-riparian Sindh, further depriving it of its rightful share.
This conflict is deeply rooted in decades of systemic marginalisation and deliberate discrimination against Sindh by Pakistan’s political and economic elite. The inequitable distribution of water resources within the country has long been a source of contention, exacerbating inter-provincial rivalries. After the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, the distribution of the waters of the Indus basin became a contentious issue between India and Pakistan. While the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 resolved the inter-state aspect of water sharing, dividing the rivers of the basin between the two nations, it failed to address intra-national disputes within Pakistan.
Over the years, water management projects such as the Mangla and Tarbela dams were implemented, disproportionately benefitting Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous and agriculturally productive province. This imbalance has left Sindh and other provinces grappling with underdevelopment, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure.
The Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 was designed to ensure the equitable distribution of water among Pakistan’s provinces, ostensibly to resolve these persistent disputes. However, the implementation of this accord by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has been fraught with complications and ambiguities. IRSA’s mechanisms for managing water distribution remain unclear, leading to frequent disagreements among provinces over the interpretation of the accord’s provisions. Furthermore, the accord does not adequately address the sharing of water shortages, which arise from infrastructural inadequacies, ineffective governance, natural disasters, and the growing impacts of climate change.
In such situations, lower-riparian Sindh often bears the brunt of water shortages, while upper-riparian Punjab claims a disproportionate share of available resources.
Sindh’s long-standing grievances regarding water distribution have only intensified over the years. According to IRSA figures, between 1999 and 2023, Sindh suffered an average water shortage of 40 per cent, compared to Punjab’s significantly lower 15 per cent. Sindh’s residents have consistently alleged that their fair share of water is being deliberately diverted to Punjab, which enjoys political and economic dominance in Pakistan.
These grievances have been repeatedly voiced in opposition to various water management projects, such as the Kalabagh Dam, proposed in the 1970s. Sindh’s vehement objections, alongside resistance from other stakeholders, ultimately prevented the dam’s construction. Similarly, Sindh opposed the development of canals such as the Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal and the Taunsa-Panjnad Link Canal, arguing that these projects would further deprive the province of its rightful water share. Despite these objections, the canals were constructed, and Punjab has since drawn water from them, ignoring Sindh’s persistent protests.
The most recent controversy erupted in October 2024 when the Central Development Working Party approved an irrigation project for Punjab involving the construction of six new canals worth 211 billion PKR in the Cholistan area. Sindh’s government and civil society were quick to condemn the proposal, highlighting its potentially devastating impact on the province’s agriculture and economy. Nabi Bux Sathio, Vice President of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, warned that the canals would “ruin 12 million acres of agricultural land in Sindh to irrigate just 1.2 million acres of desert" in Cholistan.
This dire prediction has resonated with farmers across Sindh, who rely heavily on irrigation for 77 per cent of their agricultural land. Given the province’s agrarian economy, the proposed canals are seen as an existential threat.
Sindh’s vulnerability to water-related challenges has been exacerbated by climate change and poor disaster management. The devastating floods of 2022, which submerged 4.4 million acres of agricultural land and claimed nearly 800 lives, are a stark reminder of the province’s precarious situation. Recurrent floods and droughts, compounded by systemic mismanagement of water resources, have further weakened Sindh’s capacity to cope with environmental and economic pressures.
Against this backdrop, the federal government’s continued prioritisation of Punjab’s interests is perceived as an act of systemic exploitation and a denial of Sindh’s rights. The ongoing protests in Sindh reflect a broader pattern of resistance to the federal government’s water policies. Farmers, activists, and political leaders have joined forces to demand the cancellation of the proposed canals, underscoring their collective determination to protect Sindh’s water resources. These demonstrations have drawn attention to the historical and structural inequities that have long plagued inter-provincial relations in Pakistan.
While the protests may succeed in stalling the canal project temporarily, the underlying issues of water distribution and governance are unlikely to be resolved without significant reforms.
The systemic marginalisation of Sindh in favour of Punjab is rooted in Pakistan’s political and economic power dynamics. Punjab’s dominance in these spheres has allowed it to secure a disproportionately large share of resources, often at the expense of other provinces. This imbalance is further reinforced by a lack of transparency and accountability in water governance.
The federal government’s repeated failure to address Sindh’s grievances has fuelled a deep sense of distrust and alienation among the province’s residents. The issue of water sharing within Pakistan underscores the urgent need for a more equitable and inclusive approach to resource management. The federal government must prioritise the development of transparent mechanisms for water distribution, ensuring that the rights and needs of all provinces are respected.
The IRSA’s role in implementing the Water Apportionment Accord must be reviewed and reformed to address its shortcomings. Additionally, policies must be developed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and improve water infrastructure across the country.
Sindh’s protests against the proposed canals are not merely about water; they are a manifestation of the province’s broader struggle for justice and equity. The federal government’s persistent favouritism towards Punjab has deepened inter-provincial divisions, threatening national unity and stability. Unless these systemic issues are addressed, Pakistan will continue to face recurring conflicts over resource distribution, undermining its development and governance.
The current controversy over the construction of new canals on the Indus River serves as a microcosm of Pakistan’s larger water crisis. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address the structural inequities and mismanagement that have long plagued the country’s water governance. By prioritising the interests of dominant provinces and neglecting the rights of others, the federal government risks exacerbating inter-provincial tensions and perpetuating a cycle of conflict and deprivation.
Sindh’s protests are a wake-up call for Pakistan’s leadership to adopt a more inclusive and equitable approach to resource management, ensuring a fair and just future for all its citizens.
The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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