ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister PM Shehbaz Sharif announced Thursday that no new canals will be constructed without unanimous approval from all provinces through the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The decision came during a meeting with a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) delegation led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Sharif stressed that Pakistan’s federal structure requires resolving inter-provincial disputes through dialogue and consensus. He confirmed a CCI meeting will be held on **Friday, May 2**, to formalize agreements on canal projects.
The PM also addressed India’s recent aggressive posturing, sharing that the National Security Committee had issued a statement condemning India’s “jingoistic steps.” Both the PPP and PML-N agreed to present canal-related disputes to the CCI for resolution.
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While Sharif reiterated his decades-old stance that the **Kalabagh Dam** is economically beneficial, he emphasized that national unity outweighs any project, stating, “The federation’s integrity is paramount, and provincial objections must be respected.”
Bilawal Bhutto welcomed the consensus-driven approach, noting the PPP stands with the government in condemning India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and vowed to raise the issue globally.
