New Canal Projects Shelved: CM Murad Ali Shah Announces Resolution, Urges End to Protests
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced that the issue surrounding the construction of new canals has been resolved, stating that the federal government will no longer proceed with the project, and urging protestors to end their sit-ins.
Speaking on Express News’ program *”Center Stage”*, CM Shah said, “It has been decided today that the federal government will not move forward on the canal project. I’m thankful for this decision and hopeful that the upcoming Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting on May 2 will reaffirm this.”
Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the rivers do not have enough water to support new canal systems. “If there’s no water in the rivers, then there should be no plan for new canals. Only if there’s unanimous consensus among the provinces should such a project be revisited,” he added.
He addressed the protestors directly, stating: “I ask those holding sit-ins to stand down. The issue has been resolved. The federal government has accepted our position, and there is no need for further protests.”
The chief minister further shared that the decision to construct new canals was initially made in June 2024, but no CCI meeting was held afterward. “This led to public anxiety, and some statements gave the impression that a new canal was already being built,” he explained.
Murad Ali Shah claimed that Sindh approached the federal government and clarified that the previous decision was based on inaccurate data. “We pursued this issue through constitutional means,” he said.
On a separate note, regarding Indian aggression, CM Shah stated that the PPP and the nation stand firmly behind the decisions made by the National Security Committee. “India has irresponsibly suggested breaking agreements that they themselves cannot revoke. Their baseless accusations against Pakistan must be condemned,” he asserted.
He concluded by saying that while all parties have condemned the loss of lives, the Indian government’s reckless response also deserves strong denunciation.
