ISLAMABAD, June 29: A crucial inter-provincial meeting has been convened on Thursday, in which the four provinces would submit their official positions on the construction of big dams, Dawn has learnt.

Informed sources said the four chief ministers would attend the meeting of the parliamentary committee on water resources here on Tuesday. ANG Abbasi, chairman of the technical committee on water would also participate.

All the chief ministers have confirmed to attend the July 1 meeting and give their views on construction of new dams, alternatives, major irritants and concerns. This would be followed by another high-level meeting, most probably by the end of next week, to be presided over by President Musharraf and attended by chairman senate and speaker of the national assembly.

The parliamentary committee is seeking to appoint a panel of international experts in consultation with provincial governments to take a decision on construction of a big water reservoir.

The sources said the panel of experts would be presented with various studies so far completed by various government agencies as well as the reports expected to be finalized by the two committees - parliamentary and technical - on water resources within a couple of months.

The parliamentary committee led by Senator Nisar Memon is likely to submit its interim report to the federal government by mid of next month. The final report of the parliamentary committee is expected by end of this year and would also include technical input from the technical committee.

The technical committee led by A.N.G. Abbasi is expected to be delayed till September and would mainly cover the total water availability situation that would basically determine whether or not sufficient surplus water was available to go for a big dam.