Dr Bilawal Kamran
The Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), an ambitious project led by the federal government, aims to transform the arid lands of Punjab’s Cholistan region into fertile farmland using water from the Indus tributory rivers. At the core of the project is the construction of six new canals, including the 176km Cholistan Canal, which will bring water to 1.2 million acres of land. The scheme, costing a staggering Rs 211.34 billion, is intended to boost food security and promote rural development through modern agricultural techniques, such as the establishment of a Green Agri Mall, Smart Agri Farm, and an Agri Research Centre. However, this plan has ignited fierce opposition from Sindh, which fears the diversion of its already limited water resources.
Sindh’s primary concern revolves around the impact on the Sukkur Barrage, a critical part of its irrigation system. The Sukkur Barrage supplies water to 8.2 million acres of farmland in Sindh and even extends to Balochistan. Sindh is worried that the new canals in Punjab will further deplete its water supply, which is already stretched thin. The province argues that Punjab’s water demands will exceed even the capacity of Sindh’s largest canal, the Nara Canal, and this could devastate its irrigation system. Moreover, the reliance on water from the Sutlej River—part of the Indus system—raises additional concerns, as the river’s water availability is contingent on surplus releases from India. Given the Sutlej is already running dry, the need to pump water from other sources poses a serious challenge.
The issue deepens as the lower riparian province, Sindh, asserts its entitlement to a fair share of the water under the Indus Water Treaty. Sindh’s leaders, including Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, have voiced their concerns, stressing that the project threatens the province’s access to water and may even violate the 1991 Water Accord. As tensions escalate, the Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution calling for an immediate halt to the project, demanding a nationwide dialogue to ensure fair water distribution among provinces.
The project also faces criticism from environmentalists and agricultural experts who warn of the dire consequences of further water diversion. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, an environmentalist, highlights the severe water scarcity already plaguing the region. With reservoirs like the Mangla and Tarbela Dams at dangerously low levels, the additional demand from this project could push the water supply into negative figures. This will result in acute shortages for agriculture, exacerbate the risk of desertification, and disrupt the livelihoods of farmers already struggling to sustain their crops.
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The economic implications of the Green Pakistan Initiative have also raised eyebrows. Critics argue that the project is driven by corporate farming interests that aim to profit from large-scale agriculture, rather than genuinely benefiting local farmers. The initiative’s focus on cash crops for export, rather than improving food security for Pakistanis, has sparked accusations of elitism and exploitation. It is feared that the government is prioritizing foreign investment and agricultural modernization at the expense of small-scale farmers who rely on traditional irrigation systems to sustain their communities.
Additionally, the project threatens to worsen the ecological imbalance in the Indus Delta, an area already suffering from seawater intrusion and reduced freshwater flows. Mangrove forests, vital to the coastal ecosystem and local communities, are at risk of further destruction due to reduced river flows. This would not only endanger marine life but also accelerate coastal erosion, leaving communities vulnerable to natural disasters.
At the heart of the controversy is the question of whether this ambitious plan is truly in the best interests of Pakistan’s farmers and the environment. While the government promotes the Green Pakistan Initiative as a means to increase agricultural productivity and secure food for the nation, many argue that the project ignores systemic inefficiencies and environmental consequences. Experts like Hammad Naqi Khan, Director-General of WWF-Pakistan, advocate for a more sustainable approach to agriculture—one that emphasizes improving existing irrigation systems, adopting nature-based solutions, and empowering local farmers with the tools they need to thrive.
The Green Pakistan Initiative’s future remains uncertain as debate over its potential impact continues to intensify. Critics urge the government to reconsider the project’s implications, not only for the environment and agricultural communities but also for the social fabric of Pakistan as a whole. With tensions between provinces rising, it’s clear that the true cost of the project may extend far beyond its financial investment. If not carefully managed, it could fuel regional discord and undermine the country’s fragile unity.
