Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on a vibrant Thursday afternoon, offered his firm assurance that no new canals will be sculpted from the mighty Indus River unless a full agreement is achieved within the distinguished Council of Common Interests (CCI), as the political climate continues to heat up over this divisive project.
Amidst the bustling surroundings of a joint press conference, held side by side with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the heart of Islamabad, the Prime Minister confidently stated that the forthcoming CCI gathering, slated for May 2, is set to formally ratify the cordial accord forged between the governing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP.
This announcement is the culmination of intense and spirited negotiations between the two principal coalition partners, with insiders revealing that the PML-N has conceded to all of the PPP’s stipulations concerning the controversial canal construction endeavor.
The breakthrough comes amid growing unrest in Sindh, where protests have erupted in cities such as Sukkur, Nawabshah, and Daharki. The demonstrations were sparked by the federal government’s proposed diversion of six new canals from the Indus River, a move widely opposed in the province.
Bilawal, accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and other senior PPP leaders, attended the high-stakes meeting in Islamabad. CM Shah reiterated the party’s firm stance, warning that while PPP is not seeking to collapse the federal government, it retains the capacity to do so if needed.
Tensions reached a peak earlier this week when the Senate descended into chaos over rival resolutions on the canal project. PPP lawmakers staged a walkout while PTI senators clashed with members of the ruling coalition.
In an attempt to de-escalate the crisis, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar pledged that no decision would be imposed unilaterally and emphasised that Sindh’s concerns would be addressed through constitutional consultation.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah was also tasked with initiating direct engagement with Sindh’s political leadership. He assured stakeholders that the project would not be “bulldozed” and floated the idea of multi-party consultations.
The controversial Rs250 billion canal project has not yet been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), and currently remains on hold.
The issue has also strained coalition dynamics. Last week, Bilawal warned that the PPP could consider withdrawing from the alliance if the matter was not resolved to Sindh’s satisfaction.