Islamabad:
In the wake of an unprecedented Indian decision to suspend the Industry Water Treaty, the federal government decided Thursday to stop the controversial channel project until a consensus is reached between the center and the provinces on the issue thanks to a mutual understanding of the Common Interest Board (CCI).
The announcement was made by the president of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the President of the Pakistani People’s Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, after a meeting between the Muslim League of Pakistan in power (PML-N) and the PPP delegations to the Prime Minister. The decision helped end the intestine struggles and uncertainty, which seized the country for several days.
“The federal government has decided that no new channel will be built without CCI mutual understanding”, an official declaration following the meeting said: “It was decided GOP [Government of Pakistan] will not move further as long as the consensus is not reached among all the provinces. “”
During the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and the President of the PPP, according to the press release, the federal government commits all provincial governments to draw a long -term consensual roadmap for the development of agricultural policy and water management across Pakistan.
The two parties reiterated that the water rights of all the provinces are devoted in the water distribution agreement-1991 and the water policy-2018; With the consensus of all stakeholders. To appease the concerns of all the provinces and to ensure the food and ecological security of Pakistan, the two parties decided to constitute a committee having a representation of the federation and all the provinces.
“The Committee will offer solutions to Pakistan’s long -term agricultural needs and the use of water from all provinces in accordance with the two consensual documents,” added the press release.
He said water is one of the most precious products and that manufacturers of the Constitution have recognized this, forcing all water disputes to be resolved amicably by consensus and concerns of any province must be treated by reasonable diligence between all stakeholders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz and Bilawal decided that a meeting of the Common Interest Board would meet on May 2, 2025, in which representatives of the PPP and PML-N must approve the policy of the federal government mentioned above and such proposals will be returned to the relevant agency in order to develop a consensus.
The PPP also published a statement after the meeting. In the press release, Bilawal said that after detailed discussions between the two delegations, an important decision was made that no channel will be built without total consensus among the provinces. “The decisions of this meeting will be ratified at the meeting of the Common Interest Board on May 2,” said Bilawal, “where no channel will be confirmed.”
Bilawal added that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh dam, and now a joint decision has been made that “no channel will be built without mutual agreement”. He also condemned India’s declarations concerning the Industry Water Treaty, claiming that Pakistan will raise the question of the Indus in public level and give a good answer to the decisions of India.
Bilawal thanked the Prime Minister for hearing the PPP and the country’s reserves and complaints in detailed commitment and made significant subsequent decisions. He said the Prime Minister had largely addressed the complaints of those who protested against government policy and expressed the hope that the CCI meeting would approve the decision not to build new channel without mutual agreement.
“We are not making any decision today, but only saying that without consensus, new channels will not be taken. I look forward to the meeting of the CCI,” said Bilawal while strongly condemning the announcements of India, in particular with regard to ITP, and said they were not only illegal but “against humanity”.
“We will stand with you and lift the case of Pakistan not only in the streets, but internationally and will give an appropriate response to India’s decision,” said former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The president of the PPP, who threatened to overthrow the federal government about a week ago, thanked the Prime Minister for his agreement and said that he was looking forward to continuing to work with him.
