December 15, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1424

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SUKKUR, Dec 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has observed that reservoirs are necessary to overcome water shortage and said the people of Sindh should reject the politics over the issue.

He was addressing a gathering of growers, Nazims, councillors and the people of adjoining areas of Ghotki at a luncheon hosted by District Nazim Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar and Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar in Khangarh on Sunday.

The president said new dams should be constructed without delay as he claimed Sindh would benefit the most from the projects.

He said no one could steal water as the telemetry system had been installed to monitor water distribution. He said he would ensure that Sindh got its due share of water.

Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, federal minister Ghaus Bux Mahar, Liaqat Jatoi, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, former prime minister Balkh Sher Mazari, former governor Mehmood Haroon and some parliamentarians were also present on the occasion.

Gen Musharraf said the country was facing an acute shortage of irrigation water because of sedimentation of its water reservoirs of Tarbela and Mangla.

He said Sindh would suffer more if water reservoirs were not constructed as it was situated at the tail-end of the Indus River.

The president announced construction of the Sehwan dam in Sindh from which six canals would be taken out which would feed Sindh and Balochistan. He said the dam would be completed in four years.

He said he was aware of the grievances of the people of Sindh and assured the audience that he will adopt measures to redress them.

Gen Musharraf maintained the armed forces did not belong to a particular province but the Pakistan Army was a national army. He said the figure of Sindhi jawans in the army had shown an upward trend during the last three years. He said there were 70,000 personnel from Sindh and the number would go up to 77,000 very soon.

He also appealed to the people to reject religious forces involved in sectarianism as they were creating a negative image of the country in the world.

Condemning religious fanaticism, the president said Islam had always preached tolerance and brotherhood but such tactics were tarnishing the image of Muslims.

He said his government had initiated several mega projects to bring about economic revolution in Sindh. In this connection, he mentioned the Right Bank Outfall Drain project, Renee canal, which would irrigate thousands of acres, and 55 highway projects. He particularly referred to the Thar coal project.

The president regretted that Ghotki remained backward despite paying huge revenue to the national exchequer.

He said the government was making efforts to eliminate poverty in rural areas of the province.

He said multinational companies engaged in gas, energy, power and the fertilizer sector in the Ghotki district had agreed to contribute their resources in the development of health, education and social sectors.

He announced that a board of governors, comprising representative of multinational companies and headed by the district Nazim, would soon be formed to identify where such development works should be initiated.

Gen Musharraf also announced a special grant of Rs250 million for road, electricity and gas projects of the district. He said another Rs250 million would be provided by the Sindh government.

Earlier, District Nazim Mahar said Rs13 billion received through taxes was paid by Ghotki to the national exchequer but in return the district got a small amount for its development schemes.

The chief minister said the people of Sindh were more concerned about their basic problems than the Legal Framework Order.