CCI Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Canals Project

A meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) has been scheduled for May 2 (Friday) to deliberate on the canals project. This arrangement follows the federal government’s decision to postpone the project after several weeks of protests in Sindh.

According to an official statement released on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the 52nd CCI meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Federal Minister Amir Muqam are expected to be in attendance. Invitations to participate have been extended to the chief ministers of all four provinces.

Law Minister Azad Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Science and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal are also slated to be present at the session.

Furthermore, special invitations have been sent to the minister for petroleum, the minister for water resources, and the minister for the power division. The chief secretaries of all provinces have also been invited to attend.

The day before, PM Shehbaz, in a joint press briefing with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, stated that no new canal construction would proceed without achieving mutual consensus through the CCI platform.

PM Shehbaz and PPP chief Bilawal briefed the media regarding the outcomes of their discussions. The PPP delegation, headed by Bilawal, included Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PPP Secretary General Humayoon Khan, PPP Secretary Information Nadeem Afzal Chan, Shazia Marri, Jam Khan Shoro, and Jameel Ahmed Soomro.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the federal government is collaborating with all provincial administrations to formulate a comprehensive, long-term strategy for the advancement of agricultural policy and water management infrastructure nationwide.

“We addressed the canals issue with significant attention, and he detailed in his proposals that Pakistan, as a federation, requires inter-provincial matters to be handled with mutual sincerity, goodwill, and in an appropriate manner,” he added.

The federal government’s plan to develop six canals for irrigating Punjab’s Cholistan desert under the Green Pakistan Initiative, which was initiated in February, caused friction between the PML-N and its coalition partner, which governs Sindh.

Earlier today, during a press conference in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah conveyed that the contentious canal projects issue is nearing resolution and encouraged protesters to transform their demonstrations into celebrations.

He noted that in a democracy, dissenting voices must be acknowledged and respected. “We are interacting with the protesters following the guidance of the PPP chairman,” he said, adding that prominent PPP figures Nisar Khuhro and Khursheed Shah were present at the protest site.

“If required, I am prepared to personally engage with the demonstrators,” he affirmed. He further stated that individuals wishing to campaign against the party are free to do so, as protesting is a fundamental democratic right.

Murad emphasized that Sindh’s issues were resolved under Bilawal’s leadership. “We will resist any project that undermines Sindh’s interests,” he declared.

Reflecting on the demonstrations, the CM pointed out that the ongoing protests have negatively impacted the economy, and roads that are currently blocked should be opened. “Some oppose the construction of canals, while others are simply against the PPP,” he observed.

Murad noted that the Prime Minister acknowledged the matter’s significance, deeming it more crucial than several federal issues. “The canal issue is now concluded,” he asserted.

He also criticized the narrative surrounding the alleged infringement of Sindh’s rights, stating, “To counter such narratives, Bilawal is directly communicating with the public.”