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GOVT, PPP AGREE TO RESOLVE CANALS ISSUE THROUGH DIALOGUE
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Monday, 21 April, 2025 I 22 Shawwal, 1446
RANA SANAULLAH, SHAJEEL MEMON SPEAK ON PHONE AND AGREE TO RESOLVE THE MATTER THROUGH DIALOGUE
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ISLAMABAD
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EDERAL government and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have agreed to resolve the canals issue through dialogue. The development came after Prime Minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah had a telephonic conversation with Sindh’s senior minister Sharjeel Memon, during which both the leaders agreed to meet and discuss the issue. Sanaullah told him that the federal government was ready to hold talks with Sindh. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his elder brother former prime minister Nawaz Sharif have directed him that Sindh’s concerns be addressed, he added. Memon said that the Sindh government has already presented its stance on every forum. The PPP and the people of Sindh have serious reservations regarding the controversial canals and that the PPP wanted a fair distribution of water in accordance with the 1991 Water Accord. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Kheel Das Kohistani said that the PPP’s concerns about the canals project would be addressed and that the federal government would not take any unilateral decisions. He clarified that the canals project has not yet been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). He said that some elements have been trying to create a rift between the PML-N and the PPP, but they would jointly foil such conspiracies. PPP demands audit of canal water in
Punjab Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Nadeem Afza Chan has demanded an audit of the canal water in Punjab province. “Punjab government should delineate the canals where water will be decreased to fill the Cholistan Canal,” PPP leader asked. “Presently all canals in Punjab have lesser water than the scheduled quota,” Nadeem Afzal Chan said. He said the canals’ issue basically belongs to Punjab, where farmers facing acute shortage of water with over 50 per cent lesser water in canals. “In Mandi Bahauddin canal water flow has been only 40 percent,” talking about his native area Chan said.
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IRSA ENHANCES PROVINCIAL WATER QUOTA FROM RESERVOIRS FOLLOWING TELEPHONIC CONVERSATION
Shutter down strikes and sit-ins disrupt daily life in Sindh amid canal protests LARKANA
The ongoing protests against the construction of new canals on the Indus River entered their third day with widespread sit-ins and shutter-down strikes across various cities in Sindh. The protests have intensified, with lawyers continuing their sit-in at the Babarloi Bypass in Khairpur, and business activities severely disrupted in multiple regions of the province. In addition to the sit-ins, shutterdown strikes have been observed in key
ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated Pakistan’s second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year, pledging to achieve a “roaring success” in the critical battle to eliminate the virus. The week-long drive, running from April 21 to 27, aims to immunise 45.4 million children across the country. Over 415,000 polio workers will be mobilised to administer vaccines, including in remote and high-risk areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the launch cere-
cities such as Jamshoro, Larkana, Naushehro Feroz, Sujawal, Nawabshah, and Ghotki. Local markets, shops, and petrol stations have been closed, and business activities in towns like Ratodero, Baqrani, Dokri, and Badah in Larkana district have been suspended. In Jamshoro and Nawabshah, shops have also been shut down, and similar actions have been reported in Sujawal, Ghotki, Kandhkot, Shahdadkot, and Kashmore. Nationalist political groups have joined the protests, with several blocking the National Highway at Halani and
mony in Islamabad, the prime minister stressed the importance of collective action, saying: “Through our joint efforts, we will be successful in this campaign. I thank our international partners, especially the World Health Organisation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for their support.” He appealed to parents across Pakistan to cooperate with field teams to ensure every child under five receives the polio drops. “I request all families to play their part and support the workers visiting homes — your participation is key,” he said. Pakistan remains one of only
two countries where polio is still endemic — the other being Afghanistan. Despite decades of eradication efforts, the virus persists due to a mix of security challenges, vaccine misinformation, and parental reluctance in certain areas. Last year, Pakistan reported more than 70 polio cases, and traces of the virus were found in samples from nearly 90 districts. However, officials remain optimistic. No new case has been reported in over two months, with the last confirmed case recorded on February 10. PM Shehbaz also assured that robust security arrangements have been made for vaccination teams working in areas with security threats. “We have taken every measure to ensure our workers are protected and can carry out their duties safely,” he said. The campaign follows earlier efforts this year, including a nationwide drive in February and a targeted fractional IPV-OPV campaign in Quetta and Karachi, which vaccinated around 1 million children. Polio is a highly contagious disease with no cure, but it is preventable through immunisation. Experts warn that repeated doses are essential to build full immunity in children, especially those under five.
for coordinated efforts including strikes and online activism. Rehman demanded that Pakistan officially recognise Hamas and permit the group to open a representative office in the country, calling Hamas “a democratically elected force under international law.” “We are not slaves to the West,” he said. “The followers of the Prophet (PBUH) do not accept subjugation
by the US or Israel.” In a show of support for the strike, several major traders’ associations across Karachi have pledged to shut down businesses on April 26. This includes the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad and the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association. JI Karachi Chief Monem Zafar met with leading trader representatives on Friday. “We stand by the people of Gaza,” said Attique Mir, chairman of the traders’ alliance. “We will fully cooperate to make the strike successful.” Earlier, JI staged its ‘Palestine Solidarity March’ on Islamabad Expressway after reaching an agreement with the city administration to avoid entering the high-security Red Zone, which had been sealed off amid heightened security concerns. Originally scheduled to take place outside the US Embassy, the rally was rerouted following negotiations with authorities.
JI calls nationwide strike on April 26 to protest Israeli atrocities in Gaza ISLAMABAD
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Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced a nationwide strike on April 26 to protest against Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and to express solidarity with Palestinians. The call was made by JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman during a large pro-Palestine rally held on Sunday along the Islamabad Expressway. Addressing thousands of participants, Rehman condemned what he described as genocide in Gaza, where more than 51,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since Israel launched its military response to Hamas’s October 7 attack. “We will enforce a complete strike from Chitral to Karachi,” he declared. “We will visit every market and ask them to shut down in support of Palestine.” He also urged a nationwide boycott of products linked to Israeli interests and called
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No visa restrictions for Saudi nationals entering Pakistan, says Naqvi
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Kandiaro, which resulted in the suspension of vehicular traffic between Sindh and Punjab. Protestors have expressed their opposition to the canal projects, claiming that they would turn Sindh’s fertile lands into a desert, jeopardizing the livelihoods of local farmers and communities. Speakers at various protests have denounced the canal constructions, describing them as part of a larger conspiracy to deprive Sindh of its water resources. The protests continue to grow in size and intensity, with more cities expected to join the strike in the coming days.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday that Saudi citizens are now allowed to enter Pakistan without facing any restrictions, marking a significant development in bilateral relations. T he announcement came after a detailed meeting between Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy in Islamabad. Naqvi expressed his gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s consistent support to Pakistan, particularly during times of need, and praised the participation of the Saudi delegation in an anti-narcotics conference organized by Pakistan in collaboration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The meeting highlighted the growing cooperation between the two nations in multiple sectors. During the meeting, Naqvi revealed that Pakistan has eased travel policies for Saudi nationals, allowing them unrestricted entry into the country. The interior minister also mentioned recent reforms in passport issuance, aimed at improving document control and security. In a notable development, Naqvi shared that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan have intensified their operations against professional beggars, an issue that had been a concern in several areas. Additionally, the minister acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s crucial role in the release of five Pakistani nationals who were wrongfully imprisoned in the Kingdom on drug smuggling charges. He expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s cooperation in reuniting these families.