The Hidden Secrets Behind the Green Revolution, Closed-Door Deals, and Sindh’s Thirst: A Sensational Truth!
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
What kind of spectacle is this, where on one hand, there are promises of the Green Revolution, claims of irrigating lands, and on the other hand, the very same water is being taken away from the people of Sindh? What kind of deception is this, where a plan to extract six new canals from the Indus River is announced, yet there is no public debate, no consultation, no questions asked? The decision is made, the plan is set, and now the only thing left is to tell the people about its benefits—but are these really benefits? Or is it fulfilling someone else’s interests?
President Asif Ali Zardari stands in Parliament and says that he does not support the decision to extract more canals from the Indus River, but the same president tweeted last July from his X account, formally issuing orders for the construction of these canals under the banner of “Green Pakistan.” Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, on one hand, calls the project controversial and suggests sending it to the Council of Common Interests, while on the other hand, he also argues in favor of Green Pakistan. What kind of hypocrisy is this? Are the people of Sindh really part of this decision, or are they just being pacified with verbal statements?
So whose decision is this? The government’s? The PPP’s? Or are these the same faces that never show up but are behind every decision? But these faces are visible in meetings with President Zardari—who are they?
Who are the Decision-Makers?
It is no longer a secret that the real architects behind the so-called corporate farming being played under the Green Revolution are the same people who are behind every major project—the military establishment. The establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the inclusion of the Army Chief, and then large agricultural projects—all these are different pages of the same story. On the surface, everything appears to be under the federal government’s control, but in practice, the decisions are being made by those who have always been in charge. These canals will not only change the flow of water, they will turn Sindh’s fertile lands into barren ones, eliminate the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, and cause environmental destruction. This is a program to turn fertile lands into barren ones and barren lands into fertile ones—but has the voice of the public been included in these decisions? Was there any consultation with farmers, the people of Sindh, or environmental experts? No. Because decisions made behind closed doors leave no room for public opinion.
Sindh’s Thirst, Punjab’s Prosperity?
Here, the question also arises, where is the water flow going? Is this merely an agricultural project, or is there a larger political and economic strategy behind it? The people of Sindh are screaming, lawyers are protesting in the streets, students and political leaders are demonstrating, and even PPP members are quietly expressing objections—but no one is listening. Their lands will become barren, their water will be taken away, but the official narrative will be that “this is a development project.” This is not happening for the first time. History is full of such decisions, where one region has been sacrificed for the benefit of others. Sometimes under the guise of big dams, sometimes under the pretext of canal constructions, and sometimes under the banner of other development projects.
President Ayub Khan and the Auction of Rivers: A Historical Betrayal
This is not the first time that the waters of Sindh are being plundered. Recall the day in 1960 when Ayub Khan sold the rivers of Sindh to India, and the “Indus Waters Treaty” with India remains the poison that has seeped into Sindh’s lands to this day. The Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers were lost, and the landowners of Punjab and Sindh were left helpless. Even then, it was claimed that “this is necessary for development,” but the truth was that the entire nation was sold out for the interests of a few powerful individuals. Today, that same history is repeating itself. What Ayub Khan did under global pressure and to secure the continuation of his martial law, is now being done with the consent of Pakistan’s ruling establishment. The talk is about extracting new canals from the Indus River, but these canals are not for Sindh—they are for those large capitalists who want to convert lands into corporate farming. Pakistan’s economy, especially Sindh’s economy, is almost 75% dependent on agriculture. If there is no water, what will remain? What will the farmer do? There will be no fields, no harvest, no greenery, no employment. Workers won’t find jobs, and farmers won’t be able to plow their lands. What will happen to those who have been farming for generations to feed their children?
This decision is not about one crop, but about the livelihood of future generations. But the PPP, which was once seen as the party of Sindh’s “feudal lords,” is now sacrificing this project for the establishment’s small gains. This is the same PPP whose leaders chant “Jiye Bhutto,” but when it comes to Sindh’s land and water, they remain silent.
Decisions Behind Closed Doors, the Public in the Dark
Was there any public debate? No! Was the opinion of farmers sought? No! Was there open discussion in the Sindh Assembly? No! Was there any consultation with environmental experts? No! These decisions are being made behind closed doors through secret deals. The public is simply being told that “this is a development project.” But does development mean filling the pockets of a few powerful circles, or will the people of Sindh actually benefit from it?
When the Establishment Gives Orders, PPP Turns a Blind Eye
It is no surprise that the military establishment is behind this project. The PPP, which calls itself the “protector” of Sindh, remains silent when the establishment gives orders. This is not the first time. In the past, the PPP has sold out the rights of Sindh for political power. They tried to sell Sindh’s islands to DHA. In the 1980s, DHA began a housing scheme with just 76.2 acres of land in Karachi, which has now expanded to 8,797 acres. It has 81,489 members, including military officers, civilians, and heirs of deceased members. They promised employment to the people of Sindh through the Thar coal project, but today, people from outside are working there. This same story is being repeated with the waters of the Indus River.
The Silence of the Media, the Compulsion of the Narrative
The media is under complete control. Major channels do not openly discuss these issues. If anyone speaks out, their voice is suppressed. Newspapers only publish what is “approved.” This is not just an agricultural project—it is a war against an ideology. A war where opposing voices are silenced, where those who question are labeled as enemies of the country, and where every narrative against the establishment’s agenda is dismissed as propaganda.
People of Sindh, Wake Up!
This is the time to wake up, this is the time to ask questions!
• Sindh’s farmers, should these decisions be made without you?
• Sindh’s youth, will your future be decided in these closed rooms?
• Sindh’s politicians, will you remain silent?
These decisions are about choosing water or thirst for Sindh. If you remain silent today, tomorrow you will beg for a drop of water.
The decision is now in your hands:
• Raise your voice for your land, your agriculture, and your future generations!
• Or weep over your helplessness in the coming days!
Sindh’s rivers are your identity—do not let them be sold!
In the end, the question is…
Will the people of Sindh get their rightful share?
Is the PPP really fighting for Sindh’s rights, or is it engaged in power politics?
Is the government really empowered, or is it just a puppet being controlled from elsewhere?
And most importantly…
Will we continue to accept these decisions silently? Or will we ever rise against this oppression?
These questions are not just for today—they are eternal. But perhaps no one has the courage to answer them.
So, O heirs of Sindh, wake up!
Your river, which has been your identity for centuries,
whose waves echoed the history of Sindh, has now been sold into the hands of outsiders under the guise of a slogan! With the slogan “Jiye Bhutto,” this sacred heritage has been turned into betrayal and deception. This is no ordinary transaction, but a dark chapter of history, where the hands were Zardari’s, but the beneficiaries were those who have always looked down on Sindh. Look at the evidence—it is right in front of you! This is no story, no fiction, but the bitter mirror of reality, in which your own river, before your very eyes, has been sold.
But the question is, when will the heirs of Sindh wake up? When will they raise their voice for their land, their water, and their identity?
