ISLAMABAD: Council of Common Interests (CCI) has endorsed the federal government’s policy that no new canals would be constructed without mutual consent among the provinces, prime ministers office said in a release on Monday.
The move has ended the contentious six canals issue for now, which had sparked widespread protests in Sindh. It was decided in the CCI that the federal government would not proceed on any such project until a consensus roadmap for agricultural development and water management infrastructure is evolved.
The 52nd CCI meeting – chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif – was moved forward from its previous date of May 2.
The forum strongly condemned India’s unilateral and irresponsible actions following the Pahalgam incident.
The CCI, representing the national sentiment, sent a message of unity and solidarity, stressing that Pakistan remains a peaceful and responsible nation but knows how to defend itself when necessary.
The meeting saw all four provincial chief ministers standing united against India’s illegal moves, while the CCI welcomed a resolution passed in the Senate condemning Indian actions.
The CCI warned that if India suspends the Indus Waters Treaty or attempts to block Pakistan’s share of water, Pakistan reserves the right to protect its water interests.
Regarding the contentious six canals, it was decided further that a committee comprising representatives from the federation and provinces will be formed to propose long-term solutions for agricultural needs and water usage, in line with the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991 and the National Water Policy of 2018.
Moreover, the council returned the provisional ECNEC approval granted on February 7, 2024, regarding the construction of new canals, and instructed the Planning Division and IRSA to ensure thorough consultation with all stakeholders to foster national cohesion.
Additionally, the CCI Secretariat presented its annual reports for the fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.
The Council also approved the CCI Secretariat Recruitment Rules.
Besides, the Cabinet Division also presented annual reports of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and the State of Industry reports for 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam, and all four provincial chief ministers attended the meeting.