The ongoing dispute over water distribution in the Senate has intensified tensions between the government and coalition partner Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), further fueled by minister Aleem Khan’s controversial comments about past infrastructure failures.
The debate took place during a Tuesday session chaired by Senate Vice President Syed Ali Khan; where PPP leaders questioned the government’s water distribution figures, claiming that they were at odds with the ground reality.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman accused the government of building new canals on the Indus River, which she said would deprive Sindh province of its fair share of water.
In response, Senator Irfan Siddiqui of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) dismissed the objections as baseless, arguing that the water distribution was in line with the established formula.
Water Resources Minister Khawaja Muddasir Malik presented the government’s official water distribution figures, emphasizing that no one’s share was reduced and argued that any new canals were part of the allocated share.
Rehman, representing the PPP, moved an adjournment motion, accusing the government of withholding water from Sindh, particularly in light of the government’s plans to alter water flows in the Cholistani desert to cultivate more arable land.
He highlighted the protests across Sindh and noted that despite reports of 25-year water shortage by IRSA (Indus River System Authority), both Balochistan and Sindh had expressed concern over the situation and underlined the challenges that faces Karachi, where residents are struggling to access even basic water supplies.
He also mentioned that no meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had been held in the last 11 months, so he called for regular meetings of the CCI every three months. He urged the government to clarify its stance on the water issue.
Siddiqui responded by stating that the water distribution formula was being followed and that any objection to the construction of the canal was baseless.
In the session, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz expressed support for the PPP’s stand and criticized the lack of ICC meetings on such pressing issues.
Meanwhile, PPP senators expressed concern over the decreasing frequency of PIA flights to southern Punjab and closure of airports, highlighting that 20 PIA staff had flown free on a flight to Paris. The matter prompted an investigation, which was accepted by the Minister of Justice.
Following a request by PPP members to refer the issue of water distribution to a committee, Deputy Chairman Syed Ali Khan rejected the motion, stating that the Minister had already responded after a two-and-a-half-hour discussion.
Protests and apologies for Aleem Khan’s comments
The session also saw protests from PPP members following comments made by Aleem Khan on the PPP’s role in road infrastructure projects.
Khan’s comments, criticizing the previous government’s failure to complete the M-6 motorway project, were met with strong opposition from PPP members.
Responding to the protests, Khan apologized and stated that he held all political leaders including PPP, PML-N and PTI in high regard.
He reiterated that the government’s commitment to construct the M-6 highway from Sukkur to Karachi was still underway, with detailed designs and cost estimates already completed.
He assured the Senate that construction would begin in 2025 and that the expressway would benefit all of Pakistan, not just Sindh.
Meanwhile, PPP Senator Manzoor Ahmed disagreed with Khan’s comments and pointed out that the M-6 highway had not been a priority during previous governments.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri also criticized Khan for his lack of awareness on regional issues in Balochistan, where daily deaths were being reported due to the absence of effective governance.
