Karachi, April 24, 2025: In a major development, the federal government has reportedly agreed to withdraw its decision to initiate the construction of six canals on the Indus River, following sustained pressure from the Sindh government and widespread protests across the province.
According to sources cited by a private news channel, an official announcement is expected later this evening. A high-level meeting is scheduled for 4 PM in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to finalize the decision. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah is also expected to participate in the meeting.
The project had become a flashpoint between the PPP-led government in Sindh and the PML-N-led federal and Punjab governments, especially amid an ongoing drought that has significantly reduced river water availability for irrigation. The announcement of new canals on the already stressed Indus River was met with sharp criticism and public outrage in Sindh.
Over the past week, demonstrations and sit-ins erupted across major highways in the province. Protesters, backed by civil society and local farmers, blocked key routes to express concern that the proposed canals would threaten Sindh’s already diminishing water share. The situation escalated to the point where around 250 containers of potatoes, destined for export, were stranded at entry points due to roadblocks. Exporters warned of heavy financial losses, citing that the delays were likely to damage the perishable goods, particularly because potatoes require constant temperature regulation maintained through generators.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, speaking to reporters in Karachi, reiterated that it was Sindh that first raised objections to the project in June 2024 by formally moving the Council of Common Interest (CCI). He emphasized that the provincial government would not permit the construction of the canals, asserting that such plans were unacceptable to the people of Sindh.
“The Sindh government stands with the people and will continue to resist any attempt to deprive the province of its rightful share of water,” Shah said. He added that no action had been taken against protesters and that peaceful demonstrations were a legitimate part of democratic expression.
The expected rollback is seen as a political victory for Sindh and a testament to public mobilization around the protection of natural resources. Observers believe the issue may also influence future interprovincial water-sharing policies and debates within the CCI.
