ISLAMABAD:
As protests rage in Sindh, the “hurriedly-called” Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Monday fell short of clearly announcing that the six-canal project was being completely abandoned, rather it simply endorsed an earlier stance of the federal government that the project will only proceed if a consensus among the provinces and the CCI is achieved.
The carefully-crafted statement issued after the 52nd meeting of the CCI didn’t specifically stated that the six-canal project is fully over as it only ruled that the “provisional ECNEC approval” and “IRSA’s water availability certificate” be returned, with directions to the Planning Division and Irsa to consult with all the stakeholders, address any concerns “until mutual understanding is reached”.
The CCIthe highest constitutional body empowered to decide, formulate and regulate policies concerning interprovincial and centre-province matterswas earlier scheduled to meet on May 2 but due to worsening situation in Sindh because of the on-going protests against the six-canal project, it met on Monday.
As decided in the April 24 meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over the six-canal issue, the CCI simply endorsed the decisions taken during the PM Shehbaz-Bilawal meeting, wherein it was decided that “no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI” and the government of Pakistan will not move further until consensus is reached among all provinces.
The CCI “endorses the policy of the federal government”, an official statement released after the meeting stated, adding that “the federal government has decided that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI. It has been decided that the federal government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.”
The CCI met at the PM House with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair and attended by Deputy PM & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam and four provincial chief ministers – Syed Murad Ali Shah, Maryam Nawaz, Sarfaraz Bugti and Ali Amin Gandapur.
“In view of the above, after deliberations, the council decided that the provisional ECNEC approval dated February 7, 2024 for the construction of new canals and the IRSA water availability certificate issued in its meeting dated January 17, 2024 be returned,” an official statement issued after the 52nd CCI meeting stated.
Subsequently, it said, “The Planning Division and IRSA are directed to ensure consultation with all stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion and to address any and all concerns until mutual understanding is reached.”
Also, it said, the federal government is “engaging all provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for development of agriculture policy & water management infrastructure across Pakistan.”
It noted that water rights of all provinces are enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018; with the consensus of all stakeholders. Subsequently, to allay the concerns of all provinces and to ensure Pakistan’s food and ecological security, it was decided that a committee is being formed with representation from the federation and all provinces.
The statement stated that the committee will propose solutions to Pakistan’s long-term agriculture needs and water use of all provinces in line with the two consensus documents. The forum noted that water is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the Constitution recognized this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through mutual understanding and concerns of any province shall be addressed through due diligence amongst all stakeholders.
The issue was taken up in the CCI meeting as the PPP has been expressing serious reservations over the canals’ plan, which was initially envisaged to meet the irrigation needs of Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) in the Cholistan desert. The project was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir on February 15.
During the meeting, the CCI also strongly condemned India’s “unilateral, illegal and irresponsible actions after the Pahalgam attack”. The statement said that the CCI while expressing the national aspirations sent a message of unity and solidarity to the entire country and nation in the context of Indian actions and any aggression by India.
“Pakistan is a peaceful and responsible country, but we know how to defend ourselves,” the CCI statement read, adding “all provincial chief ministers express unity and national solidarity in unison against India’s illegal actions.”
Amid political infighting, the forum also lauded that the Senate has unanimously adopted a resolution against India’s illegal and irresponsible actions. “Pakistan has the right to protect its water interests in the event of suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and blocking of Pakistan’s water,” CCI said.
On April 24, in the wake of Indian move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the federal government had decided to halt the contentious canals project until a consensus was reached between the Center and the provinces on the issue through mutual understanding from CCI.
Earlier, the CCI meeting was scheduled for May 2 but, on Sindh government’s request owing to an ongoing protest in the province, the meeting was called on Monday evening. Sit-ins and blockades at key highways, now lasting over 10 days, have disrupted the movement of goods between Sindh and Punjab, causing shortages of petrol and food supplies. Stranded transporters reported increasing damage to vehicles as the protests continued without resolution.
In the previous meeting between PM Shehbaz and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, it was agreed upon that the federal government will not build new canals without mutual understanding from CCI and no step would be taken without the consent from all the provinces. It was also decided that CCI would ratify the decision in the coming days.
The decision had helped ending the political infighting and uncertainty, which gripped the country for several days. Nevertheless, the lawyers’ sit-in at Babarloi bypass on the National Highway in Khairpur continued and forced the federal and Sindh governments to convene CCI meeting on Thursday.
Previously, Bilawal had said that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh Dam, and now, a joint decision was made that “no canals will be built without mutual agreement”.
Sindh CM
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday confirmed that the dispute over the construction of new canals has been amicably resolved, following high-level discussions between the federal and provincial leadership.
Speaking to the media after the CCI meeting, Shah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for taking the concerns of Sindh seriously and addressing them thoughtfully. “I am thankful to the prime minister for recognizing the sensitivity of the canal issue,” he said.
The chief minister revealed that he was present during the meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where it was agreed that no new canal project would proceed without mutual consensus among the provinces.
“It has been decided that the federal government will not move forward with any new canal without consulting the provinces and obtaining agreement,” Shah emphasized.
He further stated that the water distribution accord would be fully respected, and the federal government had withdrawn the earlier Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approval from February 7. “The Planning Division and IRSA (Indus River System Authority) have been directed to consult all stakeholders before any future moves,” he added.
Addressing public concerns, Shah clarified that no money had been allocated or spent on the controversial Cholistan Canal project, refuting claims circulating in political circles. “How could canals be built when not even a single rupee was spent?” he questioned.
The CM also criticised attempts to politicize the issue, saying that President Asif Ali Zardari was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “President Zardari did not want to speak on this issue but took the opportunity to clarify during the joint session of parliament, stating no decision would be made without consensus,” Shah said, lamenting that even after the clarification, attempts were made to sow confusion.
“I personally guaranteed that no canal is being built, but still, some were unwilling to accept the assurance,” he added.
K-P CM
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that a reaffirmed commitment was made to ensure equal water rights for all provinces.
During the meeting, he confirmed, the decision to construct new canals from the Indus River had been withdrawn. “It has been decided to resolve issues through mutual understanding,” he added.
Gandapur added that three of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s demands were approved to be included in the agenda for the next CCI meeting. He stated that a review of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award will also be part of the next session’s agenda.
The chief minister further said that the agenda to recognise tobacco as a formal crop will be included in the next meeting as well. He termed the inclusion of these demands in the agenda as a major victory for K-P people.
