Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday strongly opposed the federal government’s earlier proposals for new canal construction, stating that the related project documents had been thrown into the trash.  He made these remarks upon arriving in Karachi from Islamabad while addressing party workers. The chief minister said that no new canal would be built until mutual agreement among all provinces is reached.

“These canals only existed on paper,” he said, “and those papers have been discarded into the wastebasket. ”He also criticised those campaigning against the canal plans, suggesting that such elements were engaged in propaganda not just against the projects but even against the President of Pakistan.  CM Murad expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for taking a fair stance and deciding that no canal will be constructed without provincial consensus.

It is pertinent to mention that yesterday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the 52nd meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) at the Prime Minister House, where key decisions regarding new canals were made. The CCI fully endorsed the federal government’s new policy that no canal project will proceed without mutual understanding among provinces.  It was also decided that the federal government will halt any further movement on such projects until agreement is reached through the CCI platform.

As part of a long-term approach, the federal government announced its engagement with all provincial governments to develop a unified strategy for agricultural policy and water infrastructure. Water rights of all provinces are already protected under the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 and the National Water Policy of 2018. To further this cause, a committee is being formed with representation from both federal and provincial levels.

This committee will propose a consensus-based roadmap for managing Pakistan’s agricultural water needs and ensuring inter-provincial harmony.Recognising the constitutional importance of water and the need for fair distribution, the CCI decided to return the provisional ECNEC approval of February 7, 2024, regarding canal construction, along with the IRSA water availability certificate dated January 17, 2024. The Planning Division and IRSA have been instructed to hold consultations with all stakeholders to maintain national cohesion and fully address provincial concerns before any new step is taken.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)