Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an urgent meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) today after a request from the Sindh government. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed the development, stating the meeting was originally planned for May 2 but was rescheduled due to Sindh’s demand.
Memon announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz will chair the CCI session this evening in Islamabad. A major topic on the agenda is the Cholistan Canal Project, and a final decision is expected today. Speaking to the media, Memon stressed that the protests in Sindh have severely affected transport and trade across the province.
“The movement of goods has halted, hurting both farmers and businesses,” Memon explained. Goods could not reach other provinces, leading to widespread losses. Many protest groups declared they would continue their demonstrations until the CCI meeting settled the dispute over the Cholistan Canal Project.
Memon thanked the federal government for advancing the meeting and listening to Sindh’s concerns. He emphasized that the government values dialogue and expressed hope that the protests would conclude once the Council made its decision.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, along with senior officials, will represent Sindh at the crucial CCI meeting today.
Cholistan Canal Project Sparks Widespread Protests
The Cholistan Canal Project has sparked a major political clash between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government and the federal government led by PM Shehbaz Sharif. The project aims to build six canals from the Indus River to irrigate the Cholistan desert. However, the PPP and several Sindhi nationalist groups have strongly opposed the plan.
Sources reveal that the canal system’s estimated cost stands at Rs211.4 billion. Through the scheme, thousands of acres of barren land could be turned into fertile farmland. Officials claim around 400,000 acres would come under cultivation if the Cholistan Canal Project goes ahead.
Political parties, religious groups, nationalist movements, and civil society have all united to stage sit-ins and rallies across Sindh. The controversy has reached boiling point, with massive demonstrations paralyzing key highways.
Last week, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warned the federal government of serious political consequences if the concerns over the Cholistan Canal Project were ignored. His warning led PM Shehbaz Sharif to meet Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and promise that no construction would proceed without full consensus at the CCI.
Despite this assurance, protests rage on. In Khairpur, the sit-in at Baberlo bypass entered its 11th day today, cutting off traffic between Sindh and Punjab. Meanwhile, at Mangrio Pump near Daharki, another protest on the National Highway has continued for nine straight days.
The blockade has caused major disruptions. Essential goods like fuel and food are stuck. Trucks and trailers remain stranded for days. Heavy vehicle drivers report severe damage to their tires because of the long wait, adding to their woes.
The standoff over the Cholistan Canal Project continues to choke Sindh’s economy, causing hardship for businesses, farmers, commuters, and transporters alike.
