Sindh govt. is strongly opposed to the construction of the Cholistan Canal and is currently contesting this issue in the ECNEC – Murad
Cholistan Canal project was approved in the CDWP despite strong opposition from the Sindh representative
Karachi, Sindh
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Monday that his government is strongly opposed to the construction of the Cholistan Canal and is currently contesting this issue in the ECNEC.
He said this while talking to the media after launching the Polio eradication campaign at SMB Fatima Jinnah School, Garden Karachi.
To a question, Murad Shah said that the IRSA authorities had certified to provide water to the Cholistan Canal if commissioned. “On September 20, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro attended the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and opposed the approval of the canal,” he said.
Chief Minister provided additional details about a recent meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that was originally scheduled for October 11 but did not take place as planned. He stated, “Before the meeting, I to Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and informed him that the Sindh government would never accept the Cholistan Canal.” Murad mentioned that he was assured by the federal minister that the agenda for the Cholistan Canal would be postponed.
“However, the meeting was held same day at 11 pm and the Cholistan Canal project was approved in the CDWP despite strong opposition from the Sindh representative,” the Chief Minister said and went on saying that he has also written to the Chairman of Planning to express his opposition to the project.
Shah said that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is the final forum where Sindh will contest its case, and the Sindh government has already challenged the Canal in the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The CM, to another question regarding the increasing number of polio cases, said that the Caretaker government could not take appropriate measures to continue polio eradication drives. Therefore, his government has to face the situation. “The provision of the caretaker government’s induction for holding general elections should be deleted from the constitution because it creates a gap in the continuity of the policies,” he said.
To a question, Murad Shah denied knowing about bringing another amendment to the constitution. “Like you [media] I have also heard this news, and have heard such news through the media,” he said.
Shah said that there was nothing wrong with the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He added that the amendment was appropriate, and that’s why PPP supported it. “PPP will never support any amendment or policy in which rights of the people of the country are trampled,” he said.
Karachi tops in refusal to Oral Polio Vaccine
Earlier, while launching the polio eradication drive, Murad Shah said that polio vaccine hesitancy and refusals remain major challenges for polio eradication efforts in the country, particularly in Sindh, as in Karachi and Hyderabad many parents refuse to allow their children to receive the oral polio vaccine (OPV).
He added that the challenge is particularly severe in Karachi, where refusals account for 85 per cent of all refusals documented in Sindh.
Shah said that in the week-long campaign, from October 28 to November 3rd, 2024, 10.6 million children under the age of five across 30 districts of Sindh would be provided with oral polio vaccine (OPV) to protect against the debilitating disease. Additionally, 9.5 million children aged 6 months to 5 years will receive Vitamin A supplements to boost their immunity.
Read: Prevalence of polio virus in Hyderabad division at a dangerous level
The CM said that with 41 polio cases reported in Pakistan this year, 12 of which are in Sindh, the urgency of this campaign cannot be overstated. He added that the presence of positive environmental samples in Karachi and other areas continues to indicate active virus circulation, making this vaccination drive essential to halting the spread of polio.
To meet this challenge, 81,000 frontline workers will be mobilized to go door-to-door, ensuring that every eligible child receives the life-saving vaccine, Murad Shah said and added that approximately 19,000 security personnel will also be deployed to safeguard the polio workers and ensure a smooth campaign.
Read: 7 More Polio Cases Detected in Sindh
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