DADU: Activist of the component parties of the Grand Democratic Alliance on Sunday took out a procession against `strategic` canals projects, which started from Sehwan, made stopovers in Dadu and Khairpur Nathan Shah and ended in Mehar where the leaders condemned the anti-Sindh water projects in their speeches.

In Dadu, leaders and activists of Sindh United Party, National Peoples` Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf welcomed the GDA leadership including Syed Zain Shah, Safdar Abbasi, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi, Masroor Khan Jatoi, Masroor Sial and Riaz Chandio when they entered the town at the head of the procession.Zain Shah said: `We will not allow destruction of millions of acres of land in Sindh. The socalled `Green Pakistan` initiative is an unsuccessful attempt to cultivate barren land at the cost of Sindh`s resources and land.

He said the construction of canals on the Indus River was unacceptable and `we will not let it happen because the river is lifeline of Sindh and any attempt to divert its waters will have disastrous consequences for Sindhi people.

He urged people to rise against the corruption of Pakistan Peoples Party`s government, which had bargained away Sindh`s water resources.

`The decision to build canals is not just an issue for Sindh, but a threat to the survival of its future generations. It is a matter of life and death for us,` said Dr Safdar Abbasi.He condemned the federal government`s plan to divert Indus water and warned that diverting water from the river by constructing canals would jeopardise water supply to millions of people, leading to economic decline, unemployment and widespread suffering.

He said the federal government was working at the behest of the establishment to create poverty and unemployment in Sindh. `There will be strong protests across Sindh against this anti-people project,` he warned.

Liaquat Ali Jatoi urged people to unite against the canals projects and protect Sindh`s water resources. The battle to save the river was critical for the survival of Sindh and its future generations, he said.

Ayaz Latif Palijo pointed out that the federal government continued its work on the canalsdespite unabated public protests and condemned ongoing exploitation of Sindh`s water resources.

He criticised the 26th Amendment and approval of PECA Act, aimed at silencing the free press and curbing freedom of expression.

Riaz Chandio called for solidarity and unified action to ensure that Sindh`s natural resources, especially its water, remained protected from exploitation.

Theleaders addressed alarge gathering in Khirpur Nathan Shah when the procession reached the town. As the procession arrived in its destination in Mehar, GDA leader Syed Sadaruddin Shah concluded the protest with a speech.

He expressed hope that the provincial government and federal authorities would respond positively to their demands and called for a briefing by Sindhand federal governments to address theirconcerns.

He said the GDA leaders would visit all districts, including Larkana, Jacobabad and Khairpur to step up efforts for securing rights of Sindh.

Other GDA leaders, including Zain Shah, Safdar Abbasi, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Riaz Chandio, emphasised the importance of preserving Sindh`s water resources and condemned the federal government`s plan to divert the Indus water.

They reiterated their stance that the canals would seriously affect livelihoods of millions of people in Sindh, particularly farmers.

The procession concluded with a call for unity to ensure protection of the Indus and prevent the construction of canals, which threatened the region`s ecology as well as economy.