LAHORE, Dec 2: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said here on Tuesday that his government was according top priority to the construction of new water reservoirs, and added that all inter-provincial issues would be resolved amicably.
He was speaking at a news conference during which he enlisted achievements made during the first year of what he described as his “corruption-free” government.
During his 100-minute address, the chief minister said the government was keeping the water issue on top of the list of its priorities and was moving towards its resolution.
The study for the construction of the Kalabagh dam was ready while for the Bhasha dam it was being prepared, Mr Elahi responded to a questioner.
“Make any dam first or give it any name. The reality is that we can only distribute water among provinces if we have it,” he replied to another question about the possibility of an agreement between the provinces on the construction of the Kalabagh dam.
The chief minister said Punjab was in constant touch with other provinces for an amicable resolution of all issues between them. “We have always cooperated with other provinces in the hour of need. We were the first to help Sindh during floods last summer,” he said.
Mr Elahi said it was agreed in the chief ministers’ conference held in Lahore in October that new water reservoirs must be built in the country.
The chief minister said the participants shared the view that the construction of new dams should not be allowed to fall prey to politics.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said the provincial government had taken several steps to facilitate overseas Pakistanis. It had launched housing schemes for them and set up divisional-level cells to redress their complaints.
Mr Elahi said the government had also constituted a Board of Investment to facilitate and encourage investment by the overseas Pakistanis.
Replying to a question, the chief minister said the government was examining shortcomings in the local government system and would take action in case any corruption was proved in any local council. “It is a new system and there is always a room for improvement,” he said.
He said the government was not satisfied with its one-year achievements. “Improvement in the governance and all sectors is a continuous process,” he said.
The chief minister said the government did not indulge in political victimization and adopted the policy of accommodation, using all criticism from the opposition and the press for improvement in the system. “We made reforms while keeping in view the needs of the people and the province,” he said.
When asked about reported predictions by some opposition leaders and Pir Pagara about mid-term elections next year, Mr Elahi said: “We will continue to serve the people despite their opinion.”
