In the wake of an unprecedented Indian movement to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, the federal government on Thursday decided to stop the disputed channels until a consensus has reached between the center and the provinces of the issue through a mutual understanding of the Council for Common Interest (CCI).

The message was made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari after a meeting between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP delegations in the Prime Minister. The decision helped end the political struggle and uncertainty that seized the country for several days.

“The federal government has decided that no new channels will be built without mutual understanding from CCI,” said an official statement after the meeting, “it has been decided that GOP [Government of Pakistan] Will not move on until agreement has been reached among all provinces. “

During the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and the PPP chairman, the declaration states, the federal government is engaged in all provincial governments to map a long-term consensus schedule for the development of agricultural policy and water management infrastructure throughout Pakistan.

Both sides reiterated that wandering rights in all provinces are enshrined in the water distribution Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018; with consensus for all stakeholders. In order to take the concerns of all provinces and to ensure Pakistan’s food and ecological security, both parties decided to constitute a committee with representation from the federation and all provinces.

“The committee will propose solutions to Pakistan’s long -term agricultural needs and water use of all provinces in accordance with the two consensus documents,” the statement added.

It said that water is one of the most precious ingredients and that the creators of the Constitution recognized this, requiring all water to be solved amicably through consensus and concerns in every province must be treated through due diligence among all stakeholders.

PM Shehbaz and Bilawal decided that a meeting of the Council for Common Interests should be convened on May 2, 2025, when PPP and PML-N representatives must be approved above mentioned the federal government policy and all such proposals will be sent back to relevant agency to develop consensus.

PPP also issued a statement after the meeting. In the statement, Bilawal said that after detailed discussions between the two delegations, an important decision was made that no channel will be constructed without total consensus among the provinces. “The decisions from this meeting will be ratified by the Council for Common Interests on May 2,” Bilawal said, “where it will be confirmed that no channel will be erected.”

Bilawal added that three provinces had raised objections to the Kalabagh dam, and now a joint decision was made that “no channels will be built without mutual agreement.” He also condemned India’s statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty and claimed that Pakistan will raise the Indus issue at the public level and give a strong answer to India’s decisions.

Bilawal thanked the Prime Minister for hearing PPP and the nation’s reservations and complaints in the detailed commitment and making important subsequent decisions. He said the prime minister had largely dealt with the complaints of those who protested against government policy and expressed hope that the CCI meeting would join the decision on no new channel construction without mutual agreement.

“We do not make any decision today, but only confirm that without agreement, no new channels will be made. I look forward to the CCI meeting,” Bilawal said, while I heavily condemned India’s messages, especially with regard to IWT, and said they were not only illegal but “against humanity.”

“We will stand with you and raise Pakistan’s case not only on the streets, but at international level and will give an appropriate response to India’s decision,” the former Foreign Minister said.

The PPP chairman, who threatened to overthrow the federal government about a week ago, thanked the prime minister for their agreement and said he was looking forward to continuing to work with him.