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A delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party discusses the controversial canals project with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on April 24, 2025. —PID
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Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced that the construction of new canals will be stopped till the consensus of the Commonwealth (CCI) Council.
Addressing a joint prosecutor of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Balawal Bhutto Zardari in Islam after an important meeting, he said, “The next CCI meeting, will formally confirm the agreement between the PPP and the PML -N on the matter.”
Bilawal joined senior PPP leaders, including Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The meeting took place against the backdrop of political turmoil and street protests.
Earlier, sources had said that the PML -N (PML -N) accepted all the demands of the PPP regarding the canal plan during the high stake between Prime Minister Shahbaz and PPP leadership.
The progress came when the two sides discussed criticism between widespread unrest in Sindh over the “controversial” project of the federal government’s six new canals from the Indus River.
The Prime Minister said that he had fully informed Bilawal about India’s latest statements and progress.
“The issue of canals was seriously discussed and constructively, the two sides agreed that such issues between the provinces should be resolved through dialogue and with good intentions,” Premier said.
Taking the controversial Kalabag Dam project, Prime Minister Shahbaz said that if Sindh has objections, these concerns should be respected in the national interest. “If the dam is against the spirit of federal harmony, we should avoid it,” he added.
Bilawal thanked the Prime Minister for his thanks for listening to PPP concerns and making decisions accordingly.
The PPP chairman reiterated that no canal would be constructed without a bilateral agreement and expressed confidence that this cooperation would help resolve public complaints.
“The three provinces have opposed the Kalabag Dam, and we have reached a consensus,” he said.
He added that although the main route was to stop the construction of a new canal, another important issue is India’s recent statements, which have become a serious concern for Pakistan.
The PPP chairman said, “We strongly condemn India’s actions that violate the Indus Waters agreement, which is unacceptable.”
The name of Sindh’s CM is Bilawal as the Canal Project Shield
Sindh’s CM Murad Ali Shah praised the PPP chairman for saying that he had called a “major victory” to stop the controversial Federal Canal project against Sindh.
Talking to reporters, Shah said that Prime Minister Shahbaz “basically accepted the PPP’s position on the matter”, adding that the party had long argued that the project was against the interests of the province.
Shah said, “This is not just Sindh’s victory – it is a victory for the federation, democracy and democratic institutions.”
He also welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to summon the CCI meeting on May 2, expressing confidence that the canal plan would be formally abolished in the forum.
The Chief Minister said, “We will present the Sindh case firmly to the CCI,” as long as the PPP remains in power, “not a single drop of Sindh water will be given.”
Thanksgiving rallies entire Sindh
PPP Sindh Bob has announced a three -day celebration across the province on the occasion of the people to thank the people and “great success”.
The party said that the federal government organized Thanksgiving rallies from the district to Tehsil level in all parts of Sindh after freezing the canals.
PPP leader Nisar Khohro said that the federal decision was a clear victory for the stance raised by the people of Sindh and the people of Sindh.
Chaos in the Senate
The Senate suffered chaos on Tuesday when PPP lawmakers walked out and PTI senators clashed with their counterparts with the ruling coalition over rival resolutions on the canal plan.
Law Minister Nazir Tarar assured that a decision would be made constitutionally and in consultation with the Sindh government.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, was also given the task of initiating direct contact with the political leadership of Sindh. He assured the stakeholders that nothing would be “bulldoz” and even suggested multi -party consultation.
These protests, which have spread to the scores, to Nawabshah and Darkki, express strong resistance to local parties and civil society, disrupting transportation and trade. CM Murad recently reiterated the PPP’s strong stance, warning that although the party does not try to bring down the federal government, it has the power to do so.
He further revealed that a plan of Rs 2550 billion is intact, as it has yet been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
Bilawal warned last week that if the matter was not resolved for the satisfaction of Sindh, his party could be out of the ruling coalition.
In February this year, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz launched a Green Pakistan move in Cholistan, which aims to revolutionize agriculture and provide farmers with agricultural facilities under one roof.
The project mobilized a wave of unrest throughout Sindh, and in March, the Provincial Assembly unanimously approved a resolution against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River.
Meanwhile, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and other nationalist parties took to the streets and staged mass rallies in different cities of the province including Karachi.
