Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has strongly denied that President Asif Ali Zardari has the authority to approve any provincial projects, claiming that the minutes regarding the approval of six canals, including the Cholistan Canal, were incorrectly issued.
A team from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), operating under the Pakistan Army, had met with President Asif Ali Zardari. According to the meeting minutes shared with the Sindh government, President Zardari was briefed by the Green Initiative on July 8, 2024. The briefing reportedly emphasized the necessity of constructing six strategic canals together: Thar Canal, Reni Canal, Kachhi Canal, Chashma Right Bank Canal, Cholistan Canal, and Thar Greater Canal.
The minutes described these canals as crucial under the Pakistan Green Initiative, highlighting their importance for agriculture and food security. They further claimed that President Zardari had given his principal approval for their construction.
However, the announcement triggered strong protests in Sindh, with critics blaming President Zardari for the project. Addressing a press conference, CM Murad Ali Shah rejected the authenticity of the minutes, stating, "These minutes were wrongly prepared; the President does not have the authority to grant approval."
When questioned about other projects mentioned in the same minutes—such as the Karachi-Monabao train service and land allocation under the Green Initiative, which have already been implemented—CM Murad Ali Shah provided an ambiguous response. He stated, "We have implemented only the beneficial projects. Sindh has allocated 54,000 acres of land to the Green Initiative, but it will use underground water, not canal water."
He also confirmed that the Sindh government had provided loans under the Green Initiative. Notably, during the meeting with President Zardari, the provincial government was instructed to facilitate settlement along with land allocation and financial support.
Clarifying the Sindh government's stance, CM Murad Ali Shah declared, "The Cholistan Canals are neither under construction nor will they be built. The Prime Minister or the Minister for Water and Power should officially announce the federal government’s disassociation from the project."
