Islamabad:
Following the unprecedented Indian movement to suspend the Indo Water Treaty, the Federal Government decided on Thursday to stop the contentious channel project until a consensus between the center and the provinces on the subject is reached through a mutual understanding of the Common Interests Council (CCI).
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the president of the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, after a meeting between the decision of the Pakistan-Nawaz Muslim League (PML-N) and the PP delegations in the home of the Prime Minister. The decision helped end political struggles and uncertainty, which seized the country for several days.
“The Federal Government has decided that new channels will not be built without Mutual Understanding of CCI,” said an official statement after the meeting, “Gop has decided [Government of Pakistan] It will not move more until the consensus between all provinces is reached. “
During the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and the president of the PPP, according to the statement, the Federal Government is involving all provincial governments to draw a long -term consensus roadmap for the development of agricultural policy and the water management infrastructure throughout Pakistan.
Both parties reiterated that the water rights of all provinces are enshrined in the water distribution agreement-1991 and the water policy-2018; with the consensus of all interested parties. To relieve the concerns of all provinces and guarantee the safety of food and ecological of Pakistan, both parties decided to constitute a committee with representation of the Federation and all the provinces.
“The Committee will propose solutions to the long -term agricultural needs of Pakistan and the use of water from all provinces according to the two consensus documents,” the statement added.
He said that water is one of the most valuable products and the creators of the Constitution recognized this, which requires that all water disputes resolve in a friendly way through the consensus and the concerns of any province will be addressed through due diligence among all interested parties.
Prime Minister Shehbaz and Bilawal decided that a meeting of the Common Interest Council will be convened on May 2, 2025, in which, the PPP and the representatives of PML-N, will support the federal government policy mentioned above and said proposals will be sent to the relevant agency to develop consensus.
The PPP also issued a statement after the meeting. In the statement, Bilawal said that after detailed discussions between the two delegations, an important decision was made that no channel will be built without a total consensus between the provinces. “The decisions of this meeting will be ratified at the meeting of the Common Interests Council on May 2,” said Bilawal, “where it will be confirmed that no channel will be built.”
Bilawal added that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh dam, and now, a joint decision was made that “channels will not be built without a mutual agreement.” He also condemned India’s statements regarding the Treaty of the Water of the Indo, stating that Pakistan will raise the problem of the Indo at the public level and give a strong response to the decisions of India.
Bilawal thanked the prime minister for listening to the PPP and the reserves and complaints of the nation in the detailed commitment and making important subsequent decisions. He said that the prime minister had largely approached the complaints of those who protested against government policy and expressed hope that the CCI meeting would support the decision of any new construction of the channel without a mutual agreement.
“We are not making any decision today, but just stating that without a consensus, new channels will not be taken. I look forward to the CCI meeting,” Bilawal said as he strongly condemned India’s ads, particularly with respect to the IWT, and said they were not only illegal but “against humanity.”
“We will remain together with you and raise the case of Pakistan not only in the streets but also internationally and give an adequate response to the decision of India,” said former Foreign Minister.
The president of the PPP, who threatened to overthrow the federal government approximately a week ago, thanked the prime minister for his agreement and said he hoped to continue working with him.
