Let the Indus river flow, AT Protest Rally Marks International Day of Action for Rivers and demands to act sindh Punjab water Accord 1945.
Chehra WebDesk
The Federal Government must choose canals or Pakistan, thousands of people gathered at the Indus River on the call of the Awami Tehreek and Sindhiani Tehreek to save the Indus. Passionate slogans were chanted against six new canals, corporate farming, the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council), and amendments to the IRSA Act.
On the occasion of World Rivers Day, under the Awami Tehreek’s call, flowers were scattered on the Indus River at key locations across Sindh, including Almanzar Jamshoro, labe Mehran Sukkur, Dolhya Darya Khan Bridge (Thatta-Sujawal), Jungsher KT Bandar, Dadu Moro Bridge, Amri Kazi Ahmed Bridge, and Larkana Khairpur Bridge. Strong protests were held against canals and dams.
"The demonstrations saw massive participation from women (many carrying their infants or young children), students, writers, poets, artists, farmers, and laborers."
Let the Indus river flow, AT Protest Rally Marks International Day of Action for Rivers and demands to act sindh Punjab water Accord 1945.
JAMSHORO/HYDERABAD On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Rivers, Awami Tehreek and Sindhyani Tehreek organized a protest rally from Karan Shoro village in Qasimabad to Al-Manzar, Jamshoro, where participants paid tribute to the Indus River. The demonstration, attended by a large number of women and children, strongly condemned the construction of six new canals, amendments to the IRSA Act, and corporate farming projects. The protesters showered flowers into the river and pledged to continue their struggle for Sindh’s water rights.
The rally was led by Awami Tehreek’s Central President Advocate Vasand Thari, Central Leaders Advocate Izhar Dawoodpo, Advocate Raheel Bhutto, Sindhyani Tehreek’s Central President Umarah Samoon, Awami Tehreek Hyderabad President Sarmad Rajpar, Noor Nabi Palijo, Husna Rahujo, Advocate Kainat Dahri, Jam Tamachi, and others.
Addressing the gathering, the leaders stated that former President Ayub Khan committed a historical betrayal by selling Sindh’s three rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—to India under an agreement with the Nehru government, leading to an environmental and economic disaster for the province. They further added that for over 150 years, Punjab’s ruling elite has been exploiting Sindh’s water by constructing canals and dams, severely damaging the Indus Delta. Citing a World Bank report, they claimed that Pakistan suffers an annual economic loss of $200 billion due to the depletion of water resources.
The speakers highlighted the devastating impact of this water mismanagement, including the destruction of mangrove forests, rising sea intrusion, and the desertification of Sindh’s agricultural lands. Despite the 1991 Water Accord, they claimed that Sindh is facing more than a 50% water shortage, with authorities failing to ensure the province receives its due share.
Turning their criticism towards the Sindh government, the leaders accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of siding with the Punjab government and the federal administration at the cost of Sindh’s interests. They alleged that the six new canals are being constructed with PPP’s tacit approval and dismissed the recent Sindh Assembly resolution on the issue as a mere eyewash, lacking the genuine demands of the people. They likened this to the digital census controversy, where PPP initially opposed the process but later endorsed it through the Council of Common Interests (CCI), reducing Sindhis to a minority in their own province.
The protestors demanded the immediate cancellation of all six new canals, corporate farming initiatives, the Green Pakistan project, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the Board of Investment Amendment Act 2023. They rejected any government resolution that does not include these demands, calling it an attempt to undermine Sindh’s struggle for its water rights.
They also criticized the role of IRSA in approving the Cholistan Canal based on manipulated data, calling for legal action against those responsible. Furthermore, they accused President Asif Ali Zardari of amending the IRSA Act to facilitate corporate control over Sindh’s water resources and shift authority over the Indus River to security institutions. The speakers condemned PPP for what they described as a deceptive strategy to mislead the public while serving the interests of powerful stakeholders.
Calling for international intervention, the leaders demanded the formation of an independent commission comprising global water and environmental experts and inalactuals to investigate violations of Sindh’s water rights. They insisted that Sindh must receive its due share of water under the 1945 Sindh-Punjab Water Agreement.
Larkana (PR): On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Rivers, Awami Tehreek organized a motorcycle rally from Larkana, culminating in a demonstration at the Larkana-Khairpur Bridge. Protesters symbolically offered flowers to the Indus River, voicing strong opposition to the construction of six new canals, corporate farming projects, and amendments to the IRSA Act.
The demonstration was led by Awami Tehreek’s Central General Secretary Advocate Sajid Hussain Mehisar, Sindhi Hari Tehreek’s Central President Comrade Ghulam Mustafa Chandio, Awami Tehreek leaders Qadir Bhutto, Ali Hassan Wako, Mehmood Ruk Rahujo, and senior members of the Sindhi Students Tehreek. A large contingent of lawyers, writers, poets, artists, students, and laborers also participated, including Larkana Bar Association President Advocate Athar Abbas Solangi and Vice President Advocate Nooruddin Mehisar, along with hundreds of lawyers who joined the protest.
Speaking at the rally, the leaders emphasized that the struggle for river conservation is a global movement, and the people of Sindh are actively fighting to protect the Indus River. They condemned the federal government’s decision to construct six new canals, stating that these projects are part of a larger plan that threatens the very existence of Sindh’s people.
They also criticized the Bilawal-Shahbaz coalition government, alleging that it has imposed a "One Unit" policy under the newly established SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council), which they claim is undermining democracy. The leaders accused the council of selling Sindh’s land and water resources to foreign investors and called for the immediate allocation of Sindh’s rightful share of water under the 1945 Water Agreement.
Sukkar On the occasion of international day action for rivers, Awami tahreek sukkur organised protest and paid tribute to River Indus by showering flowers. A huge number of protesters including women and children, from different areas of district sukkur gathered at lab e mehran sukkur. The protesters demanded immediat implementation of sindh Punjab water resolution 1945. Protesters further demanded for river indus to be declared as living creature like that of megh river of canada and let it flow naturally. The speakers including president of sindhyani tahreek sukkur shamshad bapar, paras bhatti, seema kalor, advocate Hina baloch, soohn phulphoto, fiza phulphoto, central leader of awami tahreek sarwan jatoi, adv sachal bhatti, famous poet adal soomro, president of awami tahreek sukkur ayaz kalwor, orgnaizer of khair pur faiz ali katahore, qasim malik, gulab bapar, gul hassan bapar, mansoor bapar, nawaz bapar, himath jakhrani and others while addressing the protest said that people party has made deal, the passing of resolution against canals is mere drama by ppp, the leaders of ppp have passed this resolution only to slow down the struggle against six canals and corporate farming. This resolution is a mere eye wash, lacking the genuine demand of sindhi peoples. And sindh government want to endorse choslistan canal through council of common interest (CCI), repeating the same drama that they already made during the controversy of digital censors where they passed resolution against the censors in sindh assembly and then took it to CCI and endorse the same.
Leaders demanded that corporate farming, green Pakistani SIFC and board investment amendment act 2023.
Leaders strongly demanded the immediate repeal of all exploitative laws and institutions that threaten national resources, including Corporate Farming, Green Pakistan, SIFC, and the Board of Investment Amendment Act 2023. They have also called for action under Article 6 of the Constitution against IRSA members who issued the Cholistan Canal certificate based on manipulated data.
IRSA’s decision to allocate additional water to Punjab instead of giving Sindh its rightful share under the 1991 Water Accord is unacceptable. While Sindh is already facing over a 50% reduction in its allocated water supply, millions of acres of barren land in Punjab are being irrigated through the newly approved Cholistan Canal. Such controversial decisions by IRSA are a direct attack on Sindh’s water rights and a deliberate attempt to create internal conflict in the country. The people of Sindh categorically reject these anti-national decisions and will not remain silent in the face of such injustice.
Thatta On the occasion of the International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14, 2025, the Awami Tehreek of Thatta and Sujawal districts organized a protest at the Doolahe Darya Khan Bridge (Thatta-Sujawal Bridge). Workers and leaders of the Awami Tehreek and the Sindhiani Tehreek, including Awami Tehreek’s Central Senior Vice President Noor Ahmed Katiar, Abdul Qadir Ranto, Ali Muhammad Kalmati, Majid Sagar Parihar, Abdul Razzaq Chandio, Aziz Memon, Sindhyani Tehreek’s Central Leader Salma Lashari, Sajida Parhiar, Aamna Zaur, Shazia Bhayo, Darya Khan Zaur, Ghanwar Khan Zaur, Mitha Khan Lashari, Shah Muhammad Chang, Bilawal Lashari, Aman Hussain Azad, Amanullah Brohi, Ghulam Ali Zaur, Habib Khoso, and others, gathered at the river to offer flowers and stage a sit-in.
On this occasion, a protest was held against the six strategic canals and corporate farming. Addressing the participants and speaking to media representatives, the leaders of Awami Tehreek stated: "The Indus River is the lifeline of Sindh and the guarantor of Sindh’s existence. The Punjabi rulers have been looting Sindh’s water for 150 years. Projects like the Cholistan Canal and the Green Pakistan Initiative are daggers aimed at Sindh’s survival. The Punjabi rulers sold three rivers of Sindh to India, betraying the nation. President Zardari, by amending the IRSA Act, is selling the Indus River’s water to foreign companies, backing plans for the genocide of Sindhis. The construction of six new canals under the Green Pakistan Initiative and corporate farming is annihilating Sindhis, turning Sindh into a desert and drowning the country’s economy."
They further said: "Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, and all other water resources are being occupied. Through corporate farming projects, millions of acres of Sindh’s land are being seized and handed over to foreign capitalists. The Sindhi nation will continue its daily struggle for survival and existence, and its peaceful democratic resistance will persist with vigor until the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council) and corporate farming projects are abolished."
