Technocrats reject anti-people projects of new canals and corporate farming

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Sindhi, Seraiki, Pashtun, Baloch, Punjabi Political Leaders, Intellectuals, and Water Experts reject Corporate Farming and Six New Canal Projects at a National Conference organized by Awami Tehreek in Islamabad

Islamabad

The technocrats at a national conference here on Saturday January 18, 2025, rejected the projects of new canals and corporate farming terming them anti-people and anti-state.

The conference was organized by Awami Tehreek at the National Press Club, Islamabad, to oppose corporate farming, the construction of six new canals from the Indus River, and amendments to the IRSA Act.

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-The event was attended by political leaders from Sindh, Balochistan, Pashtun regions, and the Seraiki belt, as well as progressive intellectuals, water experts, writers, labor leaders, farmers, journalists, lawyers, and student activists from across the country, including those from Punjab.

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-1Rejecting the corporate farming projects and the six proposed canals, the conference demanded that all provinces, including Sindh, should be given their rightful share of water. Water experts questioned the federal government, “There is no surplus water in the Indus River, so where from the water will come for these new canals?”

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-2Addressing the conference, political leaders said corporate farming projects are a conspiracy to snatch lands from Sindhis, Seraikis, Baloch, and Pashtuns. They demanded that instead of allocating land to military-backed corporations such as Green Corporate Initiative Private Limited, the government should distribute it among local landless farmers.

Advocate Vasand Thari, President of Awami Tehreek, labeled IRSA’s decision to issue an NOC for the Cholistan Canal as a “national betrayal.” He also condemned the allocation of 4.8 million acres of land for corporate farming under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), calling the council an unconstitutional body established to sell the country’s resources.

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-3Thari accused the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of failing to oppose these projects effectively. “The PPP must either reject the six new canals or withdraw from the federal government,” he demanded. He further alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari violated the Constitution by approving the canal projects, which fall outside the scope of presidential authority.

The conference highlighted that the construction of six new canals violates international agreements, such as the Ramsar Convention, while the amendments to the IRSA Act breach constitutional provisions, including Articles 154 and 155 of the 1973 Constitution. Thari warned that these projects amount to “genocide” of Sindh’s population by depriving them of their water rights.

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-4Thari further said that The Bilawal-Shehbaz coalition government is seizing lands and resources of oppressed nations, including Sindh, Balochistan, and KP. It is selling the country’s resources to global imperialist.

The current coalition government is more dangerous and anti-people than the dictatorships of Zia and Ayub. He said that Ayub has sold three rivers to India, economically crippling the country. The Bilawal-Shehbaz government is following the same policy, amending the IRSA Act to sell the water of the Indus River to corporate farming companies.

He also emphasized that blocking the water of the Indus Delta and depriving Sindhis of their water rights are genocidal acts that will not be tolerated. Advocate Vasand Thari stated that the federal government’s decision to issue an NOC for the Cholistan Canal is a conspiracy against the country.

Indus-Awami-Tehreek-Conference-Sindh Courier-5He demanded that the IRSA Act amendments and the six new canal projects be withdrawn immediately. The land allocated to companies under SIFC should instead be distributed to local farmers, he said. Other leaders expressed similar sentiments, pledging to resist the construction of new canals and corporate farming projects.

Participants, including prominent intellectuals, activists, and political leaders, vowed to resist the canal projects, drawing parallels with the successful opposition to the Kalabagh Dam. They pledged to continue their peaceful struggle, asserting that the people of Sindh will never allow these strategic canals to be constructed.

Read: Sindhi women take to the streets to protest against anti-Sindh projects

The conference was attended by Umrah Samoon, Central President of Sindhiani Tehreek; Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi of the National Party; Advocate Akhtar Hussain, Federal President of Awami Workers Party; Dr. Syed Azeem, leader of the Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party; Faraz Noon, leader of Saraikistan Democratic Party; Syed Lal Shah, Central General Secretary of Awami Jamhoori Party; Abdul Qayoom Shakir, leader of the Pakistan Saraiki Party; Imdad Qazi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Pakistan; Senior Baloch leader Rauf Sasoli; Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, scientist; Dr. Hassan Abbas, water expert; Naseer Memon, renowned intellectual; Jami Chandio, scholar and researcher; Farzana Bari; Dr. Saadia Kamal, leader of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists; Advocate Nisar Shah, Central Leader of Awami Workers Party Kashmir; Noor Ahmed Katiar, Central Senior Vice President of Awami Tehreek; Advocate Sajid Hussain Mahesar, Central General Secretary of Awami Tehreek; Abdul Qadir Ranto, central leader of Awami Tehreek; Advocate Naveed Abbas Kalhoro, Central President of Sindhi Shagird Tehreek; Advocate Koonj Lashari, Central President of Sindhi Girls Student Tehreek; Advocate Kainat Dahri; Advocate Sorath Manganhar; Saraiki intellectual Mazhar Arif; Aslam Saeed Galal, head of Sindhiyara Culture and Welfare Association; Gulshan Laghari, leader of Sindh United Party; Dilip Doshi, leader of Indus Lawyers Forum; Fiza Qureshi, social activist; Fazal Lund; Shumaila Irfan; Manzoor Soomro, leader of Indus Culture Forum, and other leaders. (PR)

Read: Amendment in Indus River System Authority Act: Save Sindh from Ruination

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