CCI Meeting Scheduled to Address Canals Project

A meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) is slated for May 2 (Friday), focusing on the canals project. This follows the federal government’s decision to postpone the project after weeks of demonstrations in Sindh.

According to an official announcement issued on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened the 52nd session of the CCI 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. All four provincial chief ministers have been invited to participate.

Federal Law Minister Azad Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Science and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will also be present.

Special invitations were extended to the ministers for petroleum, water resources, and the power division, as well as the chief secretaries of all provinces.

The previous day, PM Shehbaz, alongside Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, stated during a joint press briefing that no new canal construction would proceed without consensus within the CCI framework.

PM Shehbaz and PPP chief Bilawal briefed the media on the outcomes of their meeting. 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 long-term, unified strategy for agricultural policy and water management infrastructure development throughout Pakistan.

“We engaged in serious discussions regarding the canal issue, and it was proposed that as Pakistan is a federation, inter-provincial matters should be addressed with mutual understanding, sincerity, and goodwill,” he added.

The federal government’s plan to construct six canals to irrigate Punjab’s Cholistan desert under the Green Pakistan Initiative, which was launched 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 stated that the controversial canal projects issue is nearing resolution and encouraged protesters to transform their demonstrations into celebrations.

He emphasized that in a democracy, dissenting voices should be acknowledged. “We are interacting with the protesters as instructed by the PPP chairman,” he mentioned, adding that senior PPP leaders Nisar Khuhro and Khursheed Shah were present at the protest site.

“If needed, I am ready to personally meet with the demonstrators,” he assured. He further commented that those wishing to campaign against the party are entitled to do so, as protesting is a democratic right.

Murad emphasized that Bilawal’s leadership has been instrumental in addressing the issues faced by the people of Sindh. “We will stand against any project detrimental to Sindh’s interests,” he affirmed.

Regarding the protests, the CM noted that the ongoing demonstrations have had a substantial impact on the economy, and roads that are currently blocked should be reopened. “Some are against the construction of canals, while others are simply against the PPP,” he remarked.

Murad conveyed that the Prime Minister himself has recognized the significance of this matter, deeming it more important than many federal issues. “The matter of the canals is now concluded,” he asserted.

He also criticized the narrative surrounding the supposed infringement of Sindh’s rights, adding, “Bilawal is directly engaging with the public to counter these narratives.”