Latest news with #CouncilofCommonInterests
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Six-canal project officially dead in the water: Sindh CM
ISLAMABAD: The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah came out swinging on Monday, declaring victory in a bitter water war that had Sindh and the federal government on a collision course. After a high-stakes Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, a smiling CM Shah, told reporters the controversial six-canal project – slammed by political opponents especially by opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sindhi nationalist political parties as a backdoor water grab – is officially dead in the water. 'This was never about canals. Green Pakistan is about drip irrigation and quality seeds, not digging up the Indus,' Shah said, adding the CCI made the right call in slamming the brakes on the controversial project. 'No canal will be built without consensus,' he declared. 'This chapter is closed for now.' A beaming Shah declared the canal dispute 'resolved,' insisting the province's fears had been addressed, which is a good news for the people of Sindh. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur backed him up, confirming the federal government pulled its notification on the Indus River canal – a move that had sparked fury in Sindh. But the canal battle wasn't the only drama. Asked if he pressed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on freeing ex-prime minister Imran Khan, Gandapur said nope – the CCI meeting kicked off without delay and didn't go off-topic. Looking ahead, Gandapur said that KP's water share will be protected, and issues like tobacco revenue, hydropower, and national Finance Commission (NFC) distribution will take centre stage in the next showdown. Caught all smiles in a group photo with long-time political adversaries including Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz and her uncle, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Gandapur wasn't amused when pressed on his photo-op demeanor. 'Why do you care about my smile,' he shot back, shutting down the question with a smirk and a snub. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says won't build new canals, dousing row over key irrigation project
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's government on Monday decided not to build new canals on River Indus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said, following weeks of protests in the southern Sindh province over the key irrigation project. Pakistan's government launched the ambitious agricultural project in February to build a network of six canals on the Indus. The government said it aimed to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands and ensure food security for 240 million people of the country. But critics said the project would trigger water shortages in the southern parts of the country, mainly Sindh. The project sparked protests by lawyers, civil society and supporters of nationalist parties that disrupted trade and traffic on National Highway in Sindh, forcing the government last week to pause it. On Monday, PM Sharif summoned a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), a constitutional body aimed at resolving the disputes between the federation and its provinces, to discuss the irrigation project and heightened tensions with New Delhi over a recent attack in Kashmir among other things. 'Federal Government has decided that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI,' Sharif's office said in a statement after the meeting. 'It has been decided that the Federal Government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.' The development comes at a time when India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan that splits Indus River and its tributaries between Pakistan and India, threatening Pakistan's food security. Islamabad has described the move as an 'act of war' and said it would take 'all appropriate steps' to safeguard its due share of water. Sharif's office said the government was forming a committee to engage all provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for the development of an agriculture policy and water management infrastructure across Pakistan, adding that water rights of all provinces were enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018. 'The committee will propose solutions to Pakistan's long-term agriculture needs and water use of all provinces in line with the two consensus documents,' it said, adding that any concerns on the proposals would be addressed through due diligence among all stakeholders. 'Water is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the constitution recognized this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through mutual understanding.'
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CCI halts controversial canal projects, mandates provincial consensus on water infrastructure
The Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Monday formally endorsed the federal government's policy requiring unanimous provincial agreement before initiating any new canal projects, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an emergency 52nd session of the CCI at the Prime Minister's House, where all four provincial chief ministers unanimously condemned India's 'unilateral, illegal and irresponsible actions' regarding water sharing in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident. The high-level council, serving as the constitutional forum for inter-provincial harmony, delivered a blistering rebuke to New Delhi: 'Pakistan is a peaceful and responsible nation, but we know well how to defend ourselves.' The statement came amid growing tensions over India's alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty. The council declared that the 'federal government has decided that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI. It has been decided that the federal government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.' The ruling effectively suspends the controversial February 7, 2024, ECNEC approval for canal construction and voids IRSA's January 2024 water availability certificate, both now returned for reconsideration. The Planning Division and IRSA were directed to 'ensure consultation with all stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion.' Emphasizing constitutional obligations, the CCI noted: 'Water rights of all provinces are enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018.' To operationalize this, a new committee with federal and provincial representation will draft a long-term agriculture and water management roadmap. The CCI's statement stressed: 'Concerns of any province shall be addressed through due diligence amongst all stakeholders.' Recognizing water as 'one of the most precious commodities,' the council framed its decision as safeguarding both Pakistan's food security and inter-provincial harmony. The PM Office reiterated that all future infrastructure plans must align with the 'consensus documents' governing water sharing. The verdict represents a victory for provincial rights advocates but delays critical irrigation projects amid worsening climate stresses. With the new committee's formation, however, stakeholders hope to break years of deadlock through structured dialogue. The meeting, summoned by PM Shehbaz, addressed the ongoing debate over the suspension of the controversial canal project on the Indus River. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had earlier confirmed the agenda, highlighting the urgent need to resolve the inter-provincial dispute that has strained relations between Sindh and Punjab. The meeting was earlier scheduled for May 2. However, Memon announced today the meeting was called on the request of the Sindh government. The chief ministers of all four provinces have been invited to participate in the meeting. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Science and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will also attend the meeting. On Thursday, PM Shehbaz said the government is pausing the key canal irrigation project, adding that no new canals will be built until a special committee formed to address concerns on the project reaches a consensus. The premier made the announcement during a joint press conference with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, emphasizing that no unilateral decisions would be made on canal projects without provincial consensus. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord is a significant agreement that controls the distribution of water from the Indus River across all provinces of Pakistan. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has the accountability of applying this water accordingly and addressing any disputes that arise in connection with it. Meanwhile, sit-in protests and shutter-down strikes continued in different cities of Sindh against the six controversial canals issue.
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Canals project: PM Shehbaz chairs 52nd meeting of Council of Common Interests
The 52nd session of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) commenced in Islamabad on Monday, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presiding over the meeting, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting, summoned by PM Shehbaz, will address the ongoing debate over the suspension of the controversial canal project on the Indus River. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had earlier confirmed the agenda, highlighting the urgent need to resolve the inter-provincial dispute that has strained relations between Sindh and Punjab. The meeting was earlier scheduled for May 2. However, Memon announced today the meeting was called on the request of the Sindh government. The chief ministers of all four provinces have been invited to participate in the meeting. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Science and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will also attend the meeting. On Thursday, PM Shehbaz said the government is pausing the key canal irrigation project, adding that no new canals will be built until a special committee formed to address concerns on the project reaches a consensus. The premier made the announcement during a joint press conference with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, emphasizing that no unilateral decisions would be made on canal projects without provincial consensus. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord is a significant agreement that controls the distribution of water from the Indus River across all provinces of Pakistan. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has the accountability of applying this water accordingly and addressing any disputes that arise in connection with it. Meanwhile, sit-in protests and shutter-down strikes continued in different cities of Sindh against the six controversial canals issue.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan: Protests in Sindh intensify over canals issue, no outcome in meeting chaired by Sharif
The protests in Pakistan's Sindh against the construction of controversial new canals on the Indus River intensified Monday with the province cut off from the rest of the country and thousands of goods vehicles left stranded on the national highway. The Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting called by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also ended without any major outcome even as the provincial government of Pakistan People Party (PPP) in Sindh threatened to leave the federal government if it continued with its plans of construction of canals. The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of four Pakistani provinces, along with finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The intensity of the ongoing protest across the Sindh province has been increasing with each passing day, as the National Highway connecting the province with Punjab remains blocked for days, leaving at least 12,000 goods vehicles stuck and stranded. The protest is being supported by Nationalist and opposition parties, who have vowed to continue them until the federal government cancels its plans to build new canals on the Indus. The All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Associations has called on the government for immediate intervention as prolonged road blockades due to protests have stranded thousands of cargo vehicles, severely disrupting commercial activities. "Extended road closures pose serious safety risks, especially for hazardous cargo like oil, gas, and coal tankers. Prolonged exposure of these vehicles to intense heat could trigger fires or explosions, engendering lives and property," said Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, President of the transport owners associations. PM Shehbaz Sharif has assured PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that no unilateral decision would be made regarding canal construction without agreement among the provinces. The 1991 Water Apportionment Accord governs water distribution from the Indus River among provinces, with the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) responsible for its implementation and dispute resolution.
