In a significant development, the federal government has officially decided to scrap the controversial project of constructing canals from the River Indus.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to Express News, the high-stakes meeting was attended by all four chief ministers along with other key officials. After thorough discussions, it was unanimously agreed to withdraw the plan, putting an end to the proposal that had sparked concerns among various stakeholders, especially in Sindh.

Sources reveal that a technical committee will now be formed to chart the future course of action regarding water management and river projects. This committee will focus on addressing technical concerns and ensuring that any future initiatives are well-aligned with the needs of all provinces.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had engaged in talks with the leadership of the Pakistan People\'s Party (PPP) over the issue of drawing canals from the Indus River. Following their discussions, he initially announced that the CCI meeting would be held on May 2. However, honouring the Sindh government\'s urgent appeal, the Prime Minister rescheduled the session and convened the CCI meeting today instead.

This timely decision is seen as a major relief for Sindh, which had voiced strong reservations over any construction that might impact its water share.