Work on controversial canal project to be halted after Pakistan court orders

A Pakistan court issued a stay order on Monday against the federal government’s canal construction plans in Cholistan, suspending a water availability certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

The Sindh High Court (SHC) also sought a detailed response from the federal government by April 18 after it requested more time to submit its reply.

The legal challenge was filed against IRSA’s January 25 certification that cleared the way for the construction of the Cholistan and Thal canal systems, sourcing water from the Sutlej River at Sulemanki Headworks.

The petitioner’s counsel, Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro — who is also a senator representing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a coalition partner in the government — argued that IRSA’s formation is unlawful due to the absence of Sindh representation.

He said no federal member from Sindh had been appointed to IRSA, despite previous rulings by both the SHC and the Supreme Court mandating such representation.

“If the composition of IRSA’s board is unconstitutional, then every decision made by it, including the water availability certificate, is automatically illegal,” Ghumro told reporters after the hearing.

Ghumro also said the court’s latest ruling suspends not just the certificate but also all work stemming from it, including approvals from federal bodies like the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).

Sindh Advocate General Hasan Akbar echoed this view, stating that any construction activity on the canals must cease immediately under the legal effect of the stay order.

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What’s the issue?

The canal project has triggered sharp political backlash in Sindh, where nationalist parties and civil society groups have led protests across the province. Critics say the project favors Punjab at the expense of Sindh’s already strained water supply.

The PPP, a key ally in the federal government, has opposed the plan. Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned the federal government to roll back the initiative.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah have also spoken against the project, with Shah vowing that it will never be executed as long as the PPP remains in power.

The project

The federal government has proposed building six new canals, including in Cholistan, to bring around 400,000 acres of barren land under cultivation.

Government sources estimate the cost of the Cholistan canal project at PKR 211.4 billion.

IRSA defended its decision, saying the water allocation was based on availability and was made in line with the 1991 Water Accord. However, the move has deepened provincial tensions and renewed debate over resource allocation and federal fairness.

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