KARACHI:Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday said that the federal government has announced the cancellation of the canals project and the protesters should cease their agitation and unblock the roads they have obstructed, as this disruption is affecting daily life.
Addressing a press conference at Chief Minister House, he declared the recent cancellation of the project a “victory for the federation, democracy, and the people of Sindh.”
Flanked by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, the chief minister reiterated that no practical work had been undertaken on the canal project; only a model had been developed to attract investment.
“We challenged it in the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). I also raised this issue clearly on the floor of the assembly.”
He said, “In June 2024, we were bound to address this situation head-on when we challenged the IRSA certificate in the CCI.”
Regarding the Cholistan Canal project, Shah revealed that on January 17, 2024, the caretaker Punjab government had requested the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) to issue a water availability certificate, which IRSA granted despite Sindh’s opposition.
“The PPP government in Sindh challenged this decision in June 2024,” he noted, adding that any province opposing an IRSA decision has the right to challenge it before the CCI.
The Chief Minister stated that protests should not block roads or hinder daily life. He referenced a recent meeting in Islamabad during which the Sindh delegation successfully convinced federal authorities that the project was unfeasible.
Following this, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a joint media talk where they officially announced the project’s cancellation.
The Chief Minister noted that the prime minister had convened a CCI meeting scheduled for May 2, 2025, assuring that the issue of water non-availability would be highlighted during discussions.
Calling the development a “win-win,” Shah stated that the decision was not politically motivated but aimed at broader national unity and democratic principles. “The people’s voice has been heard and respected,” he affirmed.
“The final decision to scrap the new canals project will be formally ratified in the upcoming CCI meeting in May,” the Chief Minister announced.