The decision by the Federal and Sindh governments to resolve the long-standing dispute over the Canal project through dialogue is not just welcome—it is necessary. In a country already battling economic fragility, environmental volatility, and political unease, the last thing needed is further destabilisation through unresolved inter-provincial disputes.

We often forget that disagreement is not the problem—disconnection is. And the only antidote to disconnection is dialogue. The agreement to engage in formal negotiations on an issue as critical as water allocation, which directly affects livelihoods, agriculture, and inter-provincial trust, signals a shift in tone that must be encouraged.

That said, talk must be more than optics. The stakes are far too high for empty meetings or drawn-out committees that result in diluted resolutions. Pakistan’s water infrastructure and inter-provincial resource sharing require a holistic and future-facing approach, one that balances regional rights with national interest. In this case, Sindh’s concerns about water scarcity and its downstream vulnerability must be addressed seriously and transparently, and not brushed off in the name of development or expediency.

Protest, of course, has its place in a functioning democracy. It serves as a pressure valve and a mechanism for accountability. But prolonged, and especially violent, protests strain an already burdened system. In the current climate—economically and politically—the cost of instability is one Pakistan simply cannot afford.

We hope this moment marks a new maturity in governance, where grievances are met with listening ears and opposing views are treated not as threats but as essential components of a federal structure. A resolution, if grounded in equity and foresight, will not only benefit Sindh and the Centre but will also reinforce a model of conflict resolution that this country desperately needs to institutionalise.