KPK Government Warns Against Politicizing Chashma Right Bank Canal Project

Peshawar: Barrister Saif, the spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, has lauded the reduction of the controversy surrounding irrigation projects while cautioning that the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) project should not be politicized.

In his statement, Barrister Saif urged all parties to refrain from playing politics with irrigation projects, emphasizing the need to safeguard the interests of smaller provinces. He expressed relief that the political tussle between the two major political parties over irrigation matters had come to an end for now.

He further highlighted that the CRBC project, which was officially approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in 1991, should not be linked with other new irrigation projects. According to Barrister Saif, while canals were built in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan based on this decision, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the only province where the project has not yet been implemented.

Barrister Saif also confirmed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has committed to providing 35% of the funding for the project. He strongly opposed any attempt to add the Chashma Right Bank Canal project to a new dispute.

He criticized both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for consistently neglecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interests, leaving it deprived. He pointed out that the Chashma Right Bank Canal project could potentially transform millions of acres of barren land in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into fertile, arable land.