KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah flew to Islamabad on Monday along with senior members of his cabinet to present Sindh’s case against controversial canal projects before the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The CCI session, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will be held at 8:00 PM at the Prime Minister House, with chief ministers of all four provinces, federal ministers, and other officials — a total of 25 participants — expected to attend.
At the heart of Sindh’s protest is the water availability certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the proposed Cholistan Link Canal, which would draw water from the Indus River. Sindh government representatives argue that the issuance of such certificates threatens the province’s rightful share of water.
“The government of Sindh will formally seek the withdrawal of the water certificate for the Cholistan Link Canal during the meeting,” said a senior official. Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro has accompanied the Chief Minister for the presentation at the federal forum.
The CCI agenda, obtained through official sources, indicates that the session will primarily address Punjab’s three canal projects: the Cholistan Link Canal, Greater Thal Canal Phase II, and the Choubara Branch Canal. Sindh will also raise objections to the Jalalpur Canal project.
The urgency of the matter was reflected in the advancement of the CCI session, originally scheduled for May 2, after repeated requests from the Sindh government. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had earlier confirmed the rescheduling.
Meanwhile, protests across Sindh have intensified. Sit-ins have been staged at major highways, with a central protest camp at Babarloi Bypass in Khairpur district, led by prominent lawyers’ associations. Protesters have demanded formal cancellation of the canal projects and raised concerns over corporate farming initiatives linked to water distribution.
Despite federal assurances that the matter will be resolved through the CCI, demonstrators remain unconvinced, insisting on an immediate notification withdrawing the canal proposals.
