PM Shehbaz Calls CCI Session to Resolve Canal Dispute Amid Ongoing Sindh Protests

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) today (Monday) to address the escalating dispute over a controversial canal project, following a formal request from the Sindh government.

Originally slated for May 2, the meeting was moved up in response to intensifying protests across Sindh. Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed the updated schedule, noting that the canal issue will be the primary focus and a decision is expected during the session due to the urgency of the matter.

The dispute revolves around the federal government’s plan to build six canals from the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert. Valued at Rs211.4 billion, the project aims to convert vast stretches of barren land into productive farmland. However, the initiative has triggered sharp opposition from the PPP-led Sindh government and various nationalist groups, who fear it would deprive the province of its fair share of water, worsening Sindh’s existing water crisis.

The proposed canals have become a major flashpoint in federal-provincial tensions. While Islamabad claims the project will bring 400,000 acres under cultivation and boost agriculture, Sindh officials argue it threatens their already limited water supply. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has categorically rejected the plan, citing constitutional concerns and water rights.

Public backlash in Sindh has intensified, with widespread protests entering their 11th day. Demonstrators—including political parties, civil society groups, and farmers—have staged sit-ins and rallies across the province. Key transport routes, including the Khairpur Baberlo bypass and the Mangrio Pump near Daharki, remain blocked, disrupting inter-provincial trade and hitting businesses and agriculture hard.

Minister Memon acknowledged the severe economic impact of the protests, stating, “The transport of goods has stopped, and this has harmed both businesses and farmers, as goods cannot be transported to other provinces.”

Despite the unrest, Memon praised the federal government’s decision to expedite the CCI meeting and expressed optimism for a peaceful resolution. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, along with other senior provincial officials, will attend the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“We believe in dialogue,” Memon said. “Once the CCI meeting reaches a decision, we hope the protests will be called off.”

The outcome of today’s meeting could prove pivotal in easing political tensions and resolving one of the most contentious inter-provincial disputes in recent years.

Source: Web Desk