ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday agreed to halt construction on the proposed Indus canals until consensus is reached among provinces through the Council of Common Interests (CCI), following mounting opposition and protests in Sindh.
The announcement came after a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Prime Minister House, where both parties emphasized that no canal would proceed without provincial agreement. The decision aimed to ease rising political tension and was described in a joint statement as a commitment to mutual understanding within the constitutional framework.
The government confirmed that the CCI would meet on May 2 to formalize this stance, with participation from all provinces. A committee is also being formed to propose long-term solutions for agriculture development and water resource management in line with the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and the 2018 National Water Policy.
Bilawal stated that the decision to freeze the project would be ratified in the upcoming CCI session and that no construction would begin without total consensus. He recalled that three provinces had rejected the Kalabagh Dam and said the current proposal faced similar rejection.
He also condemned India’s recent statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, pledging to raise the matter both domestically and internationally. Bilawal thanked the prime minister for addressing the PPP’s concerns and expressed hope for continued cooperation.
While noting that the announcement was not a final decision, both leaders agreed to delay all actions until the provinces collectively approve any such development. The PPP chairman, who had earlier warned of a government collapse over the issue, said the matter would now be handled within the constitutional mechanism of the CCI.
