Rana Sanaullah, Sharjeel agree to resolve canals project issue through talks

Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon have agreed to resolve the contentious canals project issue through dialogue during a telephonic call between them, the latter’s spokesperson said on Sunday.The development comes a day after PML-N supremo Nawaz directed the federal government to initiate dialogue with the PPP to sort out the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Sindh, saying that political point-scoring should be avoided on such a sensitive national issue.PML-N Punjab President Sanaullah spoke with Memon on the phone during which both the leaders agreed that the canals dispute should be sorted out through talks, according to a statement issued by the Sindh senior minister’s spokesperson.“We are ready for negotiations with Sindh,” Sanaullah was quoted as saying.“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif have directed that Sindh’s reservations be removed,” he said.Meanwhile, Memon said that the Sindh government has given its stance on the canals project at every forum.“The PPP and the people of Sindh have serious reservations about the disputed canals,” he said. “The PPP wants fair distribution of water for the people of Sindh under the 1991 agreement.”“The PPP is also willing to hold talks with the federal government on the canals issue,” Memon said.On February 15, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Asim Munir inaugurated the ambitious Cholistan project to irrigate south Punjab’s lands amid public uproar and strong reservations in Sindh. The Sindh Assembly also passed a unanimous resolution against the project in March.The past few months have seen nationwide protests from political parties and civilians against the proposed canal project. The canals controversy has deepened with Murad strongly criticising the Punjab government for increasing water being diverted to the TP Link Canal. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) claimed to have taken all decisions as per the law.Bilawal threatens to exit govtOn April 18, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari threatened the ruling PML-N against continuing down the path of confrontation with Sindh over the issue of new canals on the Indus River.While addressing a large public gathering at the Hatri Bypass Ground on Friday night, he said his party would not go along with the federal government if it did not shelve the controversial project, even after acknowledging the PPP’s objections.

Get the latest news and updates from Dawn Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah and Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon have agreed to resolve the contentious canals project issue through dialogue during a telephonic call between them, the latter’s spokesperson said on Sunday. The development comes a day after PML-N supremo Nawaz directed the federal government to initiate dialogue with the PPP to sort out the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Sindh, saying that political point-scoring should be avoided on such a sensitive national issue. PML-N Punjab President Sanaullah spoke with Memon on the phone during which both the leaders agreed that the canals dispute should be sorted out through talks, according to a statement issued by the Sindh senior minister’s spokesperson.

“We are ready for negotiations with Sindh,” Sanaullah was quoted as saying. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif have directed that Sindh’s reservations be removed,” he said. Meanwhile, Memon said that the Sindh government has given its stance on the canals project at every forum.

“The PPP and the people of Sindh have serious reservations about the disputed canals,” he said. “The PPP wants fair distribution of water for the people of Sindh under the 1991 agreement.” “The PPP is also willing to hold talks with the federal government on the canals issue,” Memon said.

On February 15, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Asim Munir inaugurated the ambitious Cholistan project to irrigate south Punjab’s lands amid public uproar and strong reservations in Sindh. The Sindh Assembly also passed a unanimous resolution against the project in March. The past few months have seen nationwide protests from political parties and civilians against the proposed canal project.

The canals controversy has deepened with Murad strongly criticising the Punjab government for increasing water being diverted to the TP Link Canal. The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) claimed to have taken all decisions as per the law. On April 18, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari threatened the ruling PML-N against continuing down the path of confrontation with Sindh over the issue of new canals on the Indus River.

While addressing a large public gathering at the Hatri Bypass Ground on Friday night, he said his party would not go along with the federal government if it did not shelve the controversial project, even after acknowledging the PPP’s objections..