Sindh High Court halts IRSA water certificate for new canals

WEB DESK: Following the hearing on the petition against issuance of water availability certificates for canal constructions in Sindh by Indus River System Authority (IRSA), the Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a stay order against the water availability certificate.

The federal government has requested more time to submit its response while the court has directed it to submit a detailed response by April 18.

It was also pointed out that no federal representative from Sindh has been appointed in IRSA which makes the formation ‘illegal’: “On January 25, IRSA issued a certificate for the provision of water for the construction of Cholistan and Thal canals.”

Sindh Assembly tables resolution against six new Indus canals

Earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the Cholistan project on February 15 to irrigate land in South Punjab — a move that sparked strong protests and public concern in Sindh. In March, the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River, demanding that any such project be halted until an agreement is reached among all provinces.

On Sunday, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a protest rally and sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club against the proposed construction. The opposition leaders criticised the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and urged Karachi residents to rise against the project.

GDA Information Secretary and Functional League Sindh General Secretary Sardar Abdul Rahim said that the PPP has always “relied on lies and deception.”