Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari on Wednesday dismissed objections from Sindh over proposed canal projects, asserting that Punjab does not require directives from any province regarding the use of river floodwater.
Speaking to reporters in Lahore, Bukhari clarified that the planned canal projects aim to utilize excess floodwater—which would otherwise go to waste—for productive purposes.
She emphasized that no canal has been constructed yet, and the provincial government is currently working to build consensus. However, she stressed that negotiations should proceed through dialogue, not intimidation.
Responding to criticism from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bukhari pointed out that despite being in power for 16 years, the PPP has failed to resolve long-standing issues faced by farmers in the province. She warned that Punjab would not remain silent in the face of misleading political statements.
Meanwhile, protests in Sindh against the proposed diversion of water from the Indus River continue, with lawyers staging a sit-in at Sukkur Bypass, significantly affecting transportation between Sindh and Punjab.
