KARACHI (Khyber Mail): The Sindh Tarqai Passand Party (STP) has initiated a series of province-wide protests against the controversial 6 Canals Project, which many believe threatens Sindh’s water rights and the ecological balance of the Indus River. The demonstrations, which began on April 10, are scheduled to continue until May 5, 2025, with rallies and sit-ins planned across various districts.
The STP has announced the following schedule for upcoming rallies:
- April 20: District Sanghar
- April 21: Karachi Division — Sit-in on the Super Highway
- April 22: District Umerkot
- April 23: District Qambar-Shahdadkot
- April 24: District Mirpurkhas
- April 25: District Matiari — Sit-in on the National Highway
- April 26: District Mithi (Tharparkar)
- April 27: District Shikarpur
- April 28: District Sukkur
- April 29: District Jamshoro
- April 30: District Khairpur — Sit-in on the National Highway
- May 1: Province-wide rallies on International Labor Day against the occupation of Indus River water
- May 2: District Naushahro Feroze
- May 3: District Tando Allahyar
- May 4: District Thatta — Sit-in on the Hyderabad-Thatta Road
The protests are expected to cause significant disruptions on major highways and within urban centers, particularly on sit-in days. Heightened security measures and traffic diversions are anticipated around protest sites. The STP has accused the federal government and IRSA (Indus River System Authority) of depriving Sindh of its rightful water share, calling the project a direct attack on the province’s riparian rights.
Leaders and activists have described the project as a “life and death issue” for Sindh, emphasizing the ecological and economic risks posed by the diversion of Indus River water. The protests have garnered support from nationalist parties, civil society groups, and environmental activists, who argue that the canals will exacerbate water scarcity and harm Sindh’s agricultural and coastal regions.
The STP’s rallies highlight growing unrest in Sindh over water resource management and federal policies. Let me know if you’d like more details!