ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: The federal government has urged Wapda to make foolproof security arrangements for foreigners and local people working on the Mangla dam raising project and other water and power schemes.

The directive was issued by federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi here on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting to review the raising of Mangla dam project.

The minister directed that steps should be taken with the help of security authorities concerned to avoid any untoward incident in future.

The Wapda was also asked for a transparent and complete implementation of the resettlement package for persons affected by the dam raising project so that the project could be completed by September 2007.

The minister also asked for incorporation of proposals of the Azad Kashmir government relating to the project on a priority basis and people previously affected should also be compensated after proper verification to ensure the resettlement package's fair implementation.

The meeting was briefed by Chairman Wapda Tariq Hameed on the progress of the project and informed that package was being implemented fairly and work had been started.

The fishing contract rights have been given to the AJK government and water use charges are also being paid to Azad Kashmir government under the package and provisions of the 2002 power policy.

The meeting was informed that construction of temporary facilities in five work areas was almost 50 per cent complete and Rs26 billion allocated for resettlement had been transferred to the AJK government.