Latest news with #WaterPolicy-2018
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.
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt gives in, pauses contentious canals project
Listen to article In the wake of unprecedented Indian move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the federal government decided on Thursday to halt the contentious canals project until a consensus is reached between the Center and the provinces on the issue through a mutual understanding from the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The announcement was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after a meeting between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP delegations at the Prime Minister House. The decision helped end the political infighting and uncertainty, which gripped the country for several days. "Federal Government has decided that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI," an official statement following the meeting stated, "it has been decided GOP [Government of Pakistan] will not move further until consensus is reached among all provinces." During the meeting between PM Shehbaz and the PPP chairman, the statement said, the federal government is engaging all provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for development of agriculture policy & water management infrastructure across Pakistan. Both sides reiterated that water rights of all provinces are enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018; with the consensus of all stakeholders. To allay the concerns of all provinces and to ensure Pakistan's food and ecological security, both the parties decided to constitute a committee with representation from the federation and all provinces. "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," the statement added. It said that water is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the Constitution recognised this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through consensus and concerns of any province shall be addressed through due diligence amongst all stakeholders. PM Shehbaz and Bilawal decided that a meeting of the Council of Common Interests shall be convened on May 2, 2025, wherein, the PPP and the PML-N representatives shall endorse above mentioned federal government policy and any such proposals will be sent back to relevant agency in order to develop consensus. The PPP also issued a statement after the meeting. In the statement, Bilawal said that after detailed discussions between the two delegations, an important decision was reached that no canal will be constructed without total consensus among the provinces. "The decisions from this meeting will be ratified in the Council of Common Interests meeting on May 2," Bilawal said, "where it will be confirmed that no canal will be constructed." Bilawal added that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh Dam, and now, a joint decision was made that "no canals will be built without mutual agreement." He also condemned India's statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, asserting that Pakistan will raise the Indus issue at the public level and give a strong response to India's decisions. Bilawal thanked the premier for hearing out the PPP and the nation's reservations and complaints in the detailed engagement and taking important subsequent decisions. He said the prime minister had largely addressed the complaints of those protesting against the government's policy and expressed hope that the CCI meeting would endorse the decision of no new canal construction without mutual agreement. "We are not taking any decision today, but only affirming that without a consensus, new canals will not be made. I am looking forward to the CCI meeting," Bilawal said while strongly condemning India's announcements, particularly regarding the IWT, and said they were not only illegal but "against humanity". "We will stand together with you and raise Pakistan's case not only on the streets but on the international level and will give a befitting response to India's decision," the former foreign minister said. The PPP chairman, who threatened to topple the federal government about a week ago, thanked the premier for their agreement and said he looked forward to continuing to work with him.
