Sindh’s rightful share is not a favor but a constitutional guarantee. Until that promise is honored, the federation’s foundation will remain cracked and crumbling
By Ishaq Tunio | USA
Pakistan’s federation stands at a critical crossroads. Temporary decisions cannot cover up structural betrayals. Without fundamental reform, the water wars between provinces will only intensify. The federal government’s recent decision to cancel the IRSA notification and halt the construction of six controversial canals marks a tactical retreat. It has avoided, not resolved, the core injustice at the heart of the water conflict between Sindh and Punjab. The profound wounds of mistrust and inequity remain wide open, and without fundamental reforms, they will only worsen further.
Sindh’s rightful share of the Indus cannot be secured through temporary announcements or half-measures. What is needed is nothing less than a complete restructuring of Pakistan’s water governance system:
The IRSA Act must be completely rewritten. It must safeguard the rights of lower riparian provinces, such as Sindh, ensuring that no province can steal or divert water without accountability. Water distribution must be rooted in principles of fairness, equity, and enforceable law, rather than political expediency.
Transparent, independent monitoring must be implemented immediately. Every drop of the Indus flowing through all key points in Punjab, including Guddu, Sukkur, and Kotri barrages, must be measured, recorded, and publicly reported by neutral third-party institutions. Without independent oversight, there can be no trust; without trust, there can be no federation.
The Council of Common Interests (CCI) must be democratized and empowered, ensuring equal provincial representation and the right to veto decisions that affect water and natural resources. Smaller provinces should not be compelled to beg for what the Constitution has already guaranteed them. They must possess the authority to defend their rights, with the law on their side.
Pakistan stands at a decisive crossroads. Cancelling IRSA’s notification and suspending canal projects may provide short-term political relief, but they leave the structural rot unaddressed. Without rewriting the IRSA Act to ensure equitable water distribution, instituting transparent third-party monitoring at key barrages, and democratizing the Council of Common Interests—with equal provincial representation (currently, Punjab has five members out of a total of eight)—it is crucial to have veto powers; otherwise, the deep wounds of inter-provincial mistrust will only worsen. Sindh’s grievances over water theft and resource injustice are not isolated complaints, but warnings of a federation at risk. Delay and denial are no longer options. If Pakistan fails to implement bold, systemic reforms today, it will face political discord tomorrow and the very unraveling of its federal fabric. Sindh’s rightful share is not a favor but a constitutional guarantee. Until that promise is honored, the federation’s foundation will remain cracked and crumbling.
Read: The moment for decisive action is now
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The writer is a journalist from Pakistan residing in Chicago, USA. Email: ishaqtunio@gmail.com
