The Party warns of ecological, and social crises if the pillage of mineral, and water resources continues, expresses solidarity with people’s resistance movements
News Desk
Islamabad: The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has announced a National Day of Action on March 22, 2025, to protest the government’s plan to construct six canals on the Indus River, which it claims is being promoted under the guise of supporting corporate farming.
The party has warned that the project could trigger an ecological disaster affecting regions from Gilgit-Baltistan to Sindh, while further marginalising indigenous communities and working-class populations.
In a statement issued after its two-day federal committee meeting in Islamabad on March 15-16, the AWP criticised the canal project as part of a broader pattern of exploitative development policies.
The party accused the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a powerful but constitutionally unaccountable body, of spearheading initiatives that prioritise corporate profits over democratic norms and environmental sustainability.
The AWP argued that such projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, threaten to exacerbate Pakistan’s ecological and economic crises, pushing the country toward “ecocide” and deepening its reliance on imperialist powers like the IMF.
Ecological and economic concerns
The AWP emphasised that the Indus River is a vital lifeline for Pakistan’s diverse ethnic communities, providing water for agriculture, livelihoods, and ecosystems. The party warned that the canal project, along with other large-scale infrastructure initiatives, risks colonising the river and displacing local populations. It also criticised the government’s austerity measures, which it claims are disproportionately burdening working-class citizens while enabling the exploitation of natural resources by unaccountable investors.
The statement highlighted the broader socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan, including rising inflation, unemployment, and the privatisation of education and health. These issues are forcing many young people to risk their lives migrating abroad, while those who remain face shrinking opportunities and oppressive conditions.
The AWP also called for an immediate overhaul of state policies in Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa, where it says military operations and state repression have fuelled unrest and insurgency. The party condemned practices such as enforced disappearances, target killings, and the militarisation of these regions, arguing that such measures only deepen resentment and strengthen armed resistance movements.
The resurgence of religious militancy in Pakhtunkhwa, the AWP stated, is a direct consequence of the state’s misguided support for the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups.
Similarly, the party warned that the ongoing militarisation of Balochistan is alienating the local population and driving more young people toward insurgency.
Solidarity with democratic movements
The AWP expressed solidarity with various grassroots movements across Pakistan, including the Sindh Rawadari March, Aurat Azadi March, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), the Awami Action Committee Gilgit-Baltistan, Ulasi Pasoon, and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
It criticised the establishment for criminalising peaceful political mobilisation and stoking ethnic and religious divisions to maintain control over politics, economy, and culture.
The party also condemned the imprisonment of former MNA Ali Wazir, a vocal advocate for peace and democracy, and demanded his immediate release. Moreover, the AWP called for an end to the prolonged siege of Parachinar, where residents have faced severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies for the past five months, leading to widespread suffering and loss of life.
The AWP supported the demand for self-rule and internal autonomy for Gilgit-Baltistan, an end to the eight decades colonial governance system in the disputed region and harassment of political activists.
The AWP accused mainstream political parties of complicity in perpetuating an establishment-centric order that prioritises militarisation and resource exploitation over the needs of the people.
It argued that these parties have failed to address the growing economic hardships faced by the majority of Pakistan’s population, particularly its youth. The party also criticised the continued ban on student unions, which were disbanded during the General Zia dictatorship, and the privatisation of higher education, which has made it inaccessible to many.
Left unity
The AWP called on all progressive and democratic forces to unite against the militarisation of state and society and to build a genuinely democratic alternative that eliminates all forms of oppression and exploitation.
The party pledged to play a leading role in this struggle, emphasising the need for a transformative politics that prioritises the interests of Pakistan’s working-class and marginalised communities.
As the AWP prepares for its National Day of Action, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these demands and whether the party’s call for unity among progressive forces will gain traction in a deeply polarised political landscape.
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