In his address to a joint session of Parliament, President Asif Ali Zardari delivered a sharp critique of the government’s “unilateral policies” regarding the plan to carve out more canals from the Indus River System. He warned that such decisions were creating “grave strain on the federation.”
The president highlighted that the decision had drawn “strong opposition from federating units.”
“It is a proposal that I as your President cannot support,” he emphasised.
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“As President of Pakistan, I have been elected by all four provincial assemblies, the National Assembly, and the Senate of Pakistan,” President Zardari said, adding, “In the constitutional framework, it is my duty to represent the Federation.”
Urging the government to abandon the plan, he called for collaborative, sustainable solutions that prioritise national harmony and equitable resource distribution.
The president reiterated the need for “consensus-driven” decision-making to preserve national unity and ensure fair resource allocation.
“For me, Pakistan always comes first,” he asserted.
He called on the Parliament to play its role in nation-building, strengthening institutions and improving governance.
“Let us put national interest supreme and set aside personal and political differences,” President Zardari emphasised.
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