10 February 2004	Tuesday	18 Zilhaj 1424

MIANWALI, Feb 9: Tehrik-i-Istaqlal (TI) president Rehmat Khan Vardag has said that foundation of Kalabagh dam will be laid in June. He was addressing newsmen here at the District Press Club on Monday. Mr Vardag claimed that all major dams were constructed during military rule so Kalabagh dam would also be build during the reign of Gen Musharraf.

He said the TI was holding seminars all over the country to create awareness about the importance of Kalabagh dam. He claimed that if Pakistan and India had a war in future, it would be on the issue of water and not Kashmir. So the politicians and common people should realize the gravity of the situation allow construction of Kalabagh dam, he added.

Mr Vardag said one million acres of land would be irrigated and 70 million people would be benefited from it. He said he was holding a seminar at Islamabad on Sunday to highlight the important of Kalabagh dam. He suggested that small industries should be set up at district and tehsil levels and Rs10 million be given to each district for the purpose. It would create job opportunities and boost the country's economy.

He said the unemployment could be reduced by reducing the retirement age from 60 to 55 years. The government could give them all the benefits as it has Rs12 billion in the exchequer. About the district government system, he said the government should hold elections in June so that honest and qualified people could come forward.

District and tehsil Nazims should be directly elected instead of by the union council Nazims so that they should not 'invest' money for their success. He also demanded audit of the accounts of the district governments. Mr Vardag suggested that the duration of assemblies should be curtailed to three years because no assembly has ever completed its term.