National Party Condemns Transfer of Mashkel Groundwater to Reko Diq, Warns of Regional Devastation

**Quetta:** The **National Party** has strongly criticized the government’s decision to divert underground water from **Mashkel** to the **Reko Diq** project, calling it unjust, anti-people, and completely against regional interests.

According to a party statement, the economy of Mashkel largely depends on agriculture, which relies solely on groundwater. Diverting this water to meet the needs of the Reko Diq project could render thousands of acres of farmland barren, leaving local residents without livelihoods. The party warned that this move could lead to severe economic and social devastation in Mashkel, turning the area into ruins and creating a serious humanitarian crisis.

The statement further criticized the Reko Diq project for exploiting Balochistan’s resources without providing any economic or social benefits to local communities, including those in Chagai. Targeting Mashkel’s water resources was described as blatant injustice against the local population.

The National Party demanded that the government immediately halt its negative and opaque policies, respect the people’s right to local resources, and ensure that any project proceeds only with the consent and welfare of affected communities. The party reaffirmed its commitment to oppose any initiative against public interest and vowed to defend the rights of Mashkel and Balochistan residents through all constitutional, legal, and democratic forums.

The spokesperson also warned that unfair resource distribution and disregard for public consent would heighten feelings of deprivation in the province, for which the authorities would be fully responsible.