Government Puts Contentious Canals Plan on Hold

ISLAMABAD (RNN TV) — In response to India’s controversial suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and growing domestic political tensions, the federal government on Thursday announced a pause on the contentious canals project until a consensus is achieved among all provinces through the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

The decision came after a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister House between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, along with delegations from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP.

“The federal government has decided that no new canals will be constructed without mutual understanding from the CCI,” read a joint statement issued after the meeting. “Development on the project will remain suspended until a national consensus is reached.”

The announcement helped defuse growing political infighting, especially tensions between coalition partners PML-N and PPP, and brought an end to days of uncertainty.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to formulate a long-term roadmap for agricultural development and water infrastructure with input from all provincial governments. A joint committee with federal and provincial representation will be formed to propose solutions aligned with the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 and the National Water Policy of 2018.

The statement emphasized the constitutional importance of water as a shared resource and reaffirmed the need for resolving disputes through consensus, ensuring the water rights of all provinces are upheld.

A meeting of the Council of Common Interests is scheduled for May 2, 2025, where the decision to halt canal construction will be formally endorsed, and further proposals will be reviewed by relevant stakeholders.

Following the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reiterated that “no canal will be constructed without complete consensus among provinces,” referencing past objections to projects like the Kalabagh Dam. He also strongly condemned India’s recent actions concerning the Indus Waters Treaty, calling them both illegal and inhumane.

Bilawal thanked the prime minister for addressing public and party concerns, and praised the government’s willingness to engage constructively. “We are not making a final decision today but reaffirming that no canals will be built without mutual agreement,” he said, adding that Pakistan would raise the Indus issue both nationally and internationally in response to India’s move.

The PPP chairman, who just a week ago had threatened to pull out of the ruling coalition, signaled a renewed commitment to cooperation, expressing hope for further collaboration with the federal government following the upcoming CCI meeting.

Source: Web Desk