Before Cholistan Canal Project, there was a book about such business ventures. Things deteriorated though with the nosediving economy and business environment, but one business industry – a diversified conglomerate – has flourished. Military Business i.e., MilBus.
When Ayesha Siddiqa originally published “Military Inc.” in 2007, she was ridiculed not only by the state but by the patriotic people of Pakistan too without even being read. The data, numbers, graphs, and words in her book were extraordinary. An objective book on a subjective topic at least till then.
In 2007, the estimated total value of MilBus in Pakistan was $20 billion. How much would that be today? $50-$60 billion? Perhaps. You can’t audit. You can’t know.
Anyway, let’s come to Cholistan Canals Project. Civilians are leading and civilians are fighting over it, and civilians are debating it, and civilians are funding it; yet it is an uncivil project. The directive to get it done comes from the ‘real’ Islamabad. And it’s an order.
There are six canals in total. Two are the real canals. Four are to confuse you with their ill intentions. “No, no, see, it is for Balochistan and Sindh too…”. Umm, no.
The Sutlej and Ravi rivers are almost dead. The Ravi has been tapped off officially. The Sutlej received huge water flows two years back only because there were severe floods in India. Otherwise, it’s also a dead river. The Sutlej could have been a source for this project had it been alive, as it passes through Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Bahawalpur before merging with the Chenab near Uch Sharif.
In the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), the inflow of water is gradually depleting. Glaciers in the northern mountains are melting faster – which increase the inflow of water in the rivers temporarily. Then we have rain / flood water too but that is only in a particular season and cannot be considered a reliable source for the entire year. Or corporate farming.
Here are some lies and myths of this project.
Sindh alone will not suffer. Both Punjab and Sindh will suffer. The landless farmers, the poor, middle, and lower-middle-class individuals, and those without influence in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will also suffer. Lands will be grabbed. Remember the Okara farmers? That land grabbing is going to expand massively. Also, when water is diverted from central Punjab to the southeastern side, a giant cultivated region will be deprived.
Then there is another lie of surplus water. There is no additional water. The current reservoirs are already shrinking. Punjab’s aquifer is on a substantial risk already with unaccounted pumping all across the province. Homes, car-wash centers, construction sites, factories, and mills, etc. are all sucking water out of the land and there is no bureaucracy to halt this as it halts files, development, and social services.
The feasibility study of this project is compromised. Perhaps done by some incompetents hired and managed by the bureaucracy to give it a legitimate light.
Environmental impact considerations are bogus. That has not even been considered – not a concern for them, honestly. Just like the cement factories in the Chakwal region, which had a severe negative impact on the environment. Underground water reservoirs were used so mercilessly that the whole region’s water levels fell immensely.
And there is no additional water. There is no water surplus. It’s a business for the sake of business. Not for the country or its civil residents.
Sindh will suffer. So will Punjab. It’s a dictatorial venture.
PPP was going to nod and sign on it had it been conceived well. Things went out of their hands, so Bilawal had to make some ‘democratic noise’.
PMLN has this mandate because of the ones who are entering corporate farming. Else, they didn’t even get enough mandate to had a healthy opposition. So, they will do whatever they can for their masters.
With Shehbaz Sharif as the PM, Ahsan Iqbal as the Federal Minister for Planning & Development, and an entire bureaucracy of following the orders as received; this project will see the light of the day. Maybe with a little amendment, but this will happen.
Not long ago, similar businessmen identified a big chunk of land right at the center of Lahore. The land that initially received migrants and their mutilated dead bodies from across the border after Partition of 1947. The land that has thousands of graves underneath, but time bulldozed them.
Government and Punjab Cabinet were taken on board. Even with petitions by citizens against the venture, the plan was made, and it has been executed against the environment and wellbeing of the city.
The land was then marked and cleaned. Sold for pennies to different investors. Pretty much the same businessmen that have their eyes on Cholistan.
That land is Walton. It even made headlines as ‘Waltongate Scandal’. Dawn reported on it consistently.
Walton Airport – the oldest airport of Pakistan was removed and relocated. The idea of Babe-e-Pakistan Bagh was shrunk to minimum size.
Central Business Development (CBD) was established. Infrastructure of roads has been laid. Walton Road has been made in the light of business ventures. Tall buildings are being constructed in CBD. The new road ‘Route 47’ will be inaugurated in 2 days.
From migrants of 47 to Route 47.
It could and should have been the Central Park of Lahore on New York’s design. It could and should have been the breathing gardens of Lahore.
But no. This entire country is a business.
Balochistan is not livable. Not tolerable. Not good enough for tourism too. But yes, it’s a perfect land for minerals, mining, trade, smuggling, CEPC, and wealth.
Cholistan is a desert. Only the stupidest of the stupid country would try to transform a desert into a farm with the present water risks and scarcity.
But when you have already taken big chunks of lands in cities and villages, only deserts are left now. Then it’s time for Desert Rose and you shall get your due and undue share of thorns and thirst.
With that, Jumma Mubarik.
