A political storm rose in Sindh after KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur backed the establishment of Kalabagh Dam.
Leaders from major and nationalist parties condemned the controversial stance which strained relationship between all federating units and Sindh over the years.
Similarly, Sindhi nationalist political parties warned it could harm the federation and the political environment in Pakistan.
Strong pushback from Sindh on Kalabagh dam
PPP Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the dam would leave Sindh arable land into barren calamity.
PPP Chairman reiterated that the project has been rejected before via national consensus in past and should not return.
Nisar simultaneously urged KP Chief Minister to work on dams like Bhasha, Mohmand and Diamer instead which are still in development phases.
Furthermore, JSM Chairman Riaz Ali Chandio warned that any dam or canal on the Indus would ruin lives in the delta region.
He cited Thatta Sujawal and Badin where seawater intrusion has already taken land plus more barriers would deepen the crisis.
While QAT President Ayaz Latif Palijo called the statement an act of enmity with Sindh and Balochistan.
Palijo urged the centre and Punjab to stop misleading people on Kalabagh as well as asked for removal of artificial embankments ahead of possible floods.
PTI Sindh distances itself on Kalabagh issue
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh called Kalabagh a dead horse. He said the party opposed it during Imran Khan’s tenure.
He added that KP remarks do not reflect the party line in Sindh and further added that PTI would not back any plan that weakens the federation or hurts provinces.
He noted that provincial assemblies have recorded strong reservations. He asked leaders to avoid words that fuel division and focus on safe water storage.
Water politics and what lies ahead
Khuhro said Indian water released to Punjab rivers does not pass through the Kalabagh site.
He argued the claim linking both issues are not valid. He pressed for faster work on alternate dams.
Stakeholders asked for open data on river flows sediment and sea intrusion. They want decisions based on science not slogans.
They also called for a federal dialogue with all provinces.
For now, the project faces cross party resistance in Sindh. The future debate will shape flood safety, food security and trust between provinces in Pakistan.
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