Water row: PML-N, PPP vow to open dialogue after Nawaz directive
Hope rises for amicable resolution of canals dispute
STATE OF THE NATION
April 20, 2025
IN a significant development aimed at defusing political tensions, PML-N and PPP leaders have agreed to resolve the ongoing dispute over canals project through dialogue, following a directive from PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
A statement released on Sunday by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon’s office said that PML-N’s Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah reached out via phone to discuss the issue. Both leaders expressed a commitment to settling the matter amicably.
According to several credible news outlets, the breakthrough came a day after Nawaz Sharif urged the federal government to engage the PPP in talks over the contentious canal project, warning against politicising a matter of national importance. “Political point-scoring should be avoided on such sensitive issues,” the former prime minister reportedly said.
During the call, PML-N Punjab President Sanaullah emphasised his party’s readiness for negotiations. “We are open to talks with Sindh. Both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif have instructed that Sindh’s concerns must be addressed,” he stated.
Minister Memon reiterated Sindh's longstanding reservations about the project. “The PPP and the people of Sindh have serious concerns over the new canal constructions,” he said. “We want equitable water distribution under the 1991 water accord and are willing to engage in dialogue with the federal government.”
The controversy dates back to February 15, when Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief General Asim Munir jointly inaugurated the ambitious Cholistan canal project aimed at irrigating South Punjab. The move triggered widespread criticism in Sindh, culminating in a unanimous resolution by the Sindh Assembly in March that rejected the project.
Public backlash has continued to mount over the past few months, with protests erupting nationwide and PPP leaders voicing strong opposition. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah recently accused the Punjab government of unilaterally diverting excess water into the TP Link Canal, exacerbating the crisis. Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority maintained that its decisions complied with legal protocols.
Most notably, on April 18, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari escalated the pressure, warning the federal government against persisting with the project. Speaking at a large public gathering in Hyderabad, he threatened to withdraw PPP’s support if the initiative was not shelved.
With both sides now showing willingness to engage, hopes have been rekindled for a political resolution to what has become one of the most polarising water disputes in recent years.