Written by: Dua Khan

As an agricultural country, Pakistan has long remained self-sufficient in agricultural production thanks to its fertile lands, hardworking farmers, and abundant natural resources. However, it is unfortunate that poor policy-making, government negligence, and the self-serving interests of a few powerful groups have pushed this vital sector into decline. Today, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that unemployment, inflation, and poverty have made life unbearable for the common people.

According to the Constitution of 1973, the primary responsibility of the state is to protect the lives, property, honor, and dignity of its citizens, and to ensure the provision of equal rights. Sadly, the ground realities starkly contradict these constitutional promises.

In this context, the proposed plans to extract new canals from the Indus River and transfer Sindh’s water to Punjab are not only unconstitutional and undemocratic, but they also represent a blatant theft of the rights of the people of Sindh. This situation mirrors the longstanding deprivation of the people of Balochistan from the resources, particularly Sui gas, which were extracted from their own land yet remain out of their reach.

The unjust distribution of Sindh’s water has created deep concern among lawyers, the business community, and farmers, compelling them to protest.
It is important to note that this action will not bring any significant benefit to the common farmers or people of Punjab either. The real beneficiaries will once again be a handful of influential elites who have historically seized national resources for their personal gains.

Such policies are, in fact, catalysts for sowing distrust, hatred, and divisions among the provinces. If not promptly addressed, this could lead to internal unrest, posing a grave threat to national unity and security.

The Need of the Hour: Awareness and Solidarity

Today, it is essential for the people of all provinces to unite and raise a collective voice in defense of their rights.
It must be acknowledged that for the past 73 years, politics based on nationalism, ethnicity, and sectarianism has weakened our national cohesion and created significant barriers to development.

Fortunately, there is a positive sign: public awareness is rising, conspiracies are being exposed, and the demand for the equitable distribution of national resources is growing stronger.
For the survival and prosperity of the country and the nation, it is crucial that all policies are framed with the spirit of the Constitution and democracy at their core.
Ensuring the fair distribution of resources and standing united against all forms of exploitation and injustice is imperative.

We must understand that injustice against any one province ultimately harms the entire nation. Only a strong, fair, and equality-based system can put Pakistan on the path of true development and stability.