Multan: 22-06-2025 The people of Siraiki Wasaib—including students, journalists, lawyers, intellectuals, artists, activists – gathered at seminar organised by Siraiki Lok Saanjh have issued a powerful declaration condemning Punjab’s oppressive policies, discriminatory share of Siraiki Wasaib in Punjab’s Budget 2025-26, demanding immediate steps toward the creation of a separate Siraiki province. The declaration exposes decades of economic exploitation, cultural erasure, and political disenfranchisement under what they describe as Punjab’s “internal colonialism.”
In the first agenda titled ‘Siraiki Province & Budget’, Kamran Khosa highlighted that Maryam Nawaz Govt. has dismantled previous semi-autonomy measures by weakening the South Punjab Secretariat and the removal of transparent budget-tracking mechanisms. He contended that if the Siraiki Province is constituted, its rightful share would be 1494 billion in the NFC pool. He presented details of how cuts in South Punjab’s ring-fenced 35% share in Punjab ADP will further devastate the deprived Siraiki region.
Akram Mirani, President of Siraiki Lok Saanjh, underscored the necessity of a united struggle in solidarity with other oppressed nations. He warned that the current oppressive system continues to suppress non-violent movements with force. “To achieve a balanced federation and genuine devolution of power,” Mirani declared, “we must unite against Punjab’s hegemony and the Siraiki Province will be a beacon for decentralisation and growth in Pakistan”
Prominent Siraiki intellectual and linguist Dr. Ahsan Wagha highlighted the richness of Siraiki grammar and local languages of Pakistan, re-emphasizing the urgent need to restore the basic human right of education in mother tongue for the Siraiki region. Education and learning in mother tongue, Dr. Wagha said, is a proven way to minimize learning constraints and costs for students.
Professor Mushtaq Gaadi presented the details of Bahawalpur state and its relationship to Sutlej river that it lost after the Indus Water Treaty (IWR). He said that Bahawalpur region and its water related vows are unrecognized and must be catered to for the survival of the region. He said central Punjab was the greatest beneficiary of IWR as well as in irrigation development schemes that kickstarted after the treaty.
Fazal Lund, Mazhar Nawaz Khan among others highlighted the inhumane treatment of Siraikis in the budget and called for agitation against the barbaric treatment meted out to Siraiki Wasaib by the Punjab government.
The event ended with a powerful declaration that called for:
i. Minimizing the role of central Punjab in federal decision-making to strengthen the Pakistani federation.
ii. Urgent steps for the creation of a separate Siraiki province to mitigate the historical and present economic injustices to the Siraiki region.
iii. Recognition of all languages as National Languages as well as the right to education in the mother tongue.
iv. Prioritization of the Bahawalpur regions’ water needs and reclaiming of the Sutlej River in any potential water negotiations in the future.
V. Revival of an effective alliance between the Siraiki people and other deprived nationalities, including Sindhi and Pashtun people.
