The federal government has summoned a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting on May 2 (Friday) to discuss the canals project, just a day after it put the contentious initiative on hold following weeks of protests in Sindh.
According to a notification issued on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened the 52nd meeting 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 will attend the session. The government has also invited the chief ministers of all four provinces to participate in the meeting.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Science and Health Minister Mustafa Kamal will also participate in the session.
The government has extended special invitations to the Minister for Petroleum, the Minister for Water Resources, and the Minister for Power Division. It has also invited the chief secretaries of all provinces to attend the session.
A day earlier, PM Shehbaz, during a joint press conference with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, declared that the government would not build any new canal without mutual consensus on the CCI platform.
PM Shehbaz and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari briefed the media on the decisions made during the meeting. Bilawal led the PPP delegation, which 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 premier stated that the federal government was working with all provincial governments to develop a long-term, consensus-based roadmap for agricultural policy and water management infrastructure across Pakistan.
“We discussed the issue of canals with great seriousness, and he explained in his proposals that Pakistan is a federation and it requires that the issues among the provinces should be resolved with mutual sincerity and good intentions and in a good manner,” he added.
The federal government proposed constructing six canals to irrigate Punjab's Cholistan desert under the Green Pakistan Initiative launched in February, sparking rifts between the PML-N and its ruling partner, which governs Sindh.
PPP to Block Any Initiative Perceived as Harmful to Sindh:
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, while addressing a press conference in Karachi earlier today, said the government was resolving the issue surrounding the controversial canal projects and urged protesters to now “turn their protest into celebration.”He stated that in a democracy, the opposition's voice must be heard and acknowledged. "We are engaging with the protesters as directed by PPP Chairman," he said, adding that senior PPP leaders Nisar Khuhro and Khursheed Shah were present at the protest site.
"If necessary, I will personally meet the demonstrators as well," he assured. He added that those who want to run campaigns against the party are free to do so, as protest is a democratic right.
Murad stressed that Bilawal's leadership resolved the issues faced by the people of Sindh. "We will oppose any project that goes against Sindh's interests," he stated.
Commenting on the protests, the CM said the ongoing demonstrations have severely impacted the economy, and he called for clearing the currently blocked roads. “Some are against the construction of canals, but some are simply opposing the PPP,” he noted.
Murad said the premier himself acknowledged that this matter holds greater importance than several federal issues. “The matter of the canals is now over,” he claimed.
He also criticized the narrative being built around the so-called usurpation of Sindh’s rights, stating, “To dispel such narratives, Bilawal is directly engaging with the public.”
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