Karachi, Apr 19 (Reporter) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has threatened to pull the plug on his party's parliamentary backing of the "stubborn" and "tone-deaf" PML-N-led-Shehbaz Sharif government if the controversial canals project is not immediately scrapped. "The federal government must immediately roll back its controversial canal project, otherwise the PPP cannot work with you (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz),” Bhutto said, while addressing a public gathering in the city of Hyderabad, in the country’s Sindh province. The controversial project has become a major issue of contention between political allies PPP and PML-N. The contentious canal issue is a megaproject inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in 2023, the News International reported. As part of the megaproject, a big network of six canals is to be built across the country to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands in the Cholistan desert. The $3.3bn (PKR 945 billion rupees) project, called Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI), involves diverting water from the Indus River However, the initiative has received major flak from officials who said that stakeholders were not consulted, and that diverting water from the already highly depleted river would greatly damage the river system. According to critics, the diversion of water upstream from the lower reaches of Sindh will impact the lives of thousands of people, who rely on the Indus River for their livelihoods. The Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led PPP has time and again expressed reservations over the project, with President Asif Ali Zardari cautioning the government that some of its unilateral policies are causing "grave strain" on the federation. In addition, the ongoing terror attacks in the country, a heavily depleted economy, socio-political instability, and the depleting water in the Indus River has added to the people’s woes. Bilawal Bhutto, former Foreign Minister, noted that projects are being imposed from Islamabad, and added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was "still unwilling to budge, and we are not ready to step back either". “If the choice is between Shehbaz Sharif and the people, the decision is not difficult,” he warned. He noted that the nation is burning in the fire of terrorism, and "you (federal government) sparked a debate that pits brother against brother". “Those sitting in Islamabad are blind and deaf — unwilling to see or hear the voices of the provinces. We are opposing these projects on the basis of principles because the federation is under threat. “What’s the reason behind your stubbornness? We want Pakistan to develop and ensure the federation is strengthened but we cannot back off from our principles,” he added. Bilawal emphasised that the PPP’s vision is for equal economic development across all four provinces and lowering the inflation. “We reject your ministries, we do not want them, we want respect. You will have to accept our demands.” Lashing out at the PML-N, Bilawal said, “These so-called ‘lions’ are sucking the blood of the people. Every PML-N project is against the farmers.” He accused Islamabad of denying wheat support prices to farmers and stopping provinces from procuring wheat crops. “Not only this, but the government is also taxing the farm sector heavily to destroy farmers,” he added. “Now, they plan to irrigate the desert in Cholistan by building new canals,” Bilawal added. “There has been a shortage for 25 years, since they started recording water levels. “We will not bargain over the Indus River. The PPP has plans that could ensure agricultural growth, judicious water distribution and the safety of the federation as well,” he declared. Calling for an end to the economic victimisation of farmers, Bilawal said, “If the government withdraws the controversial project, we are ready to sit down and plan the development of agriculture together.” The PPP chairman warned the federal government against any misconceptions regarding his stance. “We are political people; we are not out for personal gain. We are not campaigning for ministries or the prime ministership,” he said, adding: “We have taken to the streets to save the Indus River — and to protect the federation...////...