CCI shelves controversial canals project after protests

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI), while endorsing federal government’s decision to put on hold the canals project until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces, decided that the provisional approval for construction of new canals by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) and the water availability certificate by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) IRSA be returned.

The CCI, which met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair, also directed the Planning Division and Irsa to ensure consultation with all the stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion and to address any and all concerns until mutual understanding is reached.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Balstistan Engineer Amir Muqam and chief ministers of the four provinces also attended the crucial meeting

The CCI endorsed the policy of the federal government which says that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI.

The CCI also endorsed the decision that the federal government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.

“It is engaging all the provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for development of agriculture policy and water management infrastructure across Pakistan. Water rights of all the provinces are enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018; with the consensus of all the stakeholders”, the federal government’s decision which was endorsed by CCI said.

The federal government had also decided to allay the concerns of all the provinces and to ensure Pakistan’s food and ecological security, a committee is being formed with representation from the federation and all the provinces.

The government had also decided to form a committee which will propose solutions to Pakistan’s long term agriculture needs and water use of all the provinces in line with the two consensus documents.

The federal government also noted that it is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the Constitution recognised this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through mutual understanding and concerns of any province shall be addressed through due diligence amongst all stakeholders.

“In view of the above federal government’s decision, after deliberations, the Council decided that the provisional ECNEC approval dated 7 February 2024 for construction of new canals and the Irsa water availability certificate issued in its meeting dated 17 January 2024 be returned. Planning Division and IRSA are directed to ensure consultation with all the stakeholders, in the interest of national cohesion and to address any and all concerns until mutual understanding is reached”, a statement issued by PM media cell after the 52nd CCI meeting said.

The prime minister earlier, had convened the CCI meeting on May 2 but rescheduled on emergency basis due to ongoing protests on the national highway in Sindh.

The CCI also strongly condemned India’s unilateral and irresponsible measures taken following the Pahalgam incident.

The CCI meeting while representing the national aspirations, also conveyed a message of integrity and unity in the wake of illegal measures and an expected aggression from the enemy country.

The CCI meeting also served the purpose giving a message of integrity and unity with one voice against Indian designs and measures.

Meanwhile, “Pakistan Khappay” with a victory sign was an immediate reaction of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the decisions of Council of Common Interests (CCI) that that the federal government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.

“Pakistan Khappay” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wrote on social media platform “X” with victory sign.Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has appreciated the process for amicably resolving the canal issue through political consensus.

Ch Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, PBC Vice-Chairman and Muhammad Yaseen Azad, PBC Chairman of the Executive Committee in a statement appreciated the process for resolving the canal issue through political consensus.

They appreciated what they called the political maturity and statesmanship demonstrated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in amicably resolving the canal issue through political consensus.

They said that the PBC acknowledged that the matter has appropriately been placed before the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the constitutional forum competent to settle inter-provincial matters, thus ensuring that the canal issue will be resolved legally and institutionally.

The PBC calls upon all the stakeholders, including bar associations, civil society organisations, and citizens, to immediately cease all ongoing protests”, they said.

Meanwhile, the lawyers refused to end sit-in being held at Baberloi bypassThe lawyer leaders including Aamir Warraich and Sarfraz Maitlo said that on Tuesday there would be a core committee meeting of the lawyers which would thoroughly review the minutes of the CCI meeting held in the chair of Prime Minister of Pakistan.

They said that CCI had suspended the canal project, but their demand was the cancellation of the project for ever.They said that they had held sit-in on four-point agenda including cancellation of the 6 canal project, corporate farming and PECA act.

They said that they would not go to home on just press release issued by PM House, but they need formal complete details of the meeting so they have summoned a core committee meeting on Tuesday to devise a final strategy either to end their sit-in or to extend it.

Meanwhile, the sit-in protests against the controversial canal project on the Indus River entered its 11th day on Monday, causing major traffic disruptions across Sindh.

Talking to the media after the CCI meeting, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah congratulated the people of of Sindh, saying and was grateful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the issue of canals has been resolved amicably.

Murad said the interim approval of Ecnec and the certificate of IRSA have been withdrawn.He appreciated the the PM for holding the on April 28 instead of May 2.

He said the Sindh government raised the voice against this project approved during the caretaker period. “Due to our objection, its approval was delayed four times in ECNEC, “ he said

He said the issue related to the canal project has now been resolved. “This project was worth Rs250 billion, but not a single rupee has been spent on this project yet,” he said

He said that propaganda against President Asif Ali Zardari was made but there was no discussion about water in the meeting held on July 8. “After becoming the president, he did not appear on the media and when he got the opportunity, he said in his address to the joint session of the parliament that he does not support unilateral decisions taken without consensus,” Murad saud

Key highways, including the route between Sindh and Balochistan, remained blocked, and protests at courts continued, with lawyers shutting down entrances to the City Court in Karachi.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the scope of digital wallets would be expanded across the country and the provinces would be integrated into the digital payment system through a coordinated framework.

Addressing a ceremony to acknowledge individuals showing outstanding performance in the success of the PM’s Ramazan Relief Package, he said that modern payment methods enabled smooth transfer of funds and these payments were made transparently while maintaining the dignity of deserving individuals.

The prime minister said that funds were transferred efficiently and transparently through digital wallets, adding that 79 percent of the funds were disbursed digitally under the programme.

He observed that the old payment system had many flaws which were rectified through the modern system, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister further opined that positive results emerged from the steps taken to modernise the system and hinted that the scope of digital wallets would be expanded nationwide as provinces would also be included in the digital payment system through an integrated framework.

Next year, he said, 100 percent utilisation of funds through digital methods would be ensured.During the ceremony, Secretary Benazir Income Support Programme Amir Ahmed Ali gave a detailed briefing on the PM Ramazan Relief Package and digital wallets.

On the occasion, the prime minister gave away honorary shields to officers from public and private institutions who played a significant role in implementing the PM Ramazan Relief Package.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif met Project Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Saima Naureen and appreciated her high performance in supervising the programme of modern training in the field of agriculture for Pakistani students in China.

During the call on the prime minister by Saima Naureen, the PM lauded her passion for public service and termed it an example for government officers.

PM Shehbaz while acknowledging the efforts of the HEC Project Director underlined that her journey to China with the students and solving their problems amid personal supervision of all the arrangements for their stay in the Chinese university was commendable.

The prime minister noted that such officers busy in public service day and night were the ones who were truly entitled to promotion and privileges.

“By the grace of Allah, the first batch of students has arrived in China for modern agriculture training,” PM Shehbaz said.In the meeting, Saima Naureen informed the prime minister about the problems faced by the students during this entire process and made recommendations for resolving them in the future.

The prime minister presented a certificate of appreciation and a shield to Saima Naureen in recognition of her excellent performance.

She added that the students had reached university safely and were undergoing training.The prime minister directed a third-party validation to check the transparency of the selection process for sending Pakistani students to China for training in modern agriculture.Federal Ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Attaullah Tarar and senior officers attended the meeting.