10 February 2005	Thursday	30 Zilhaj 1425

HYDERABAD, Feb 9: Sindh Revenue and Political Affairs Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh has said the issue of Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal can be discussed in the Council of Common Interests once it is formed by the federal government.

Talking to journalists after inaugurating a pilot project of computerization of land revenue record of growers at the office of the Hyderabad taluka Mukhtiarkar (rural), Ganju Takkar, here on Wednesday, he said the forum was specifically meant for discussing such issues of national importance.

He said there was no change in Sindh's stand on water projects as reservations had been expressed by the province. The president was visiting the province to evolve a consensus on the issue, he added.

The minister maintained that he was meeting a cross section of people in this regard because he believed that reservoirs were necessary for future water needs.

Answering a question about the National Finance Commission award, he observed that the Sindh government had taken a historic stand on the issue and added that the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, would be briefed about the provincial government's case if he desired so. He said the name of Nazar Shaikh was being proposed as the private member of Sindh in the NFC.

He said the NFC award should be based on multiple factors -backwardness, population and income generation of a province. He added that in other developing countries, revenue distribution was based on these factors.

Referring to the Balochistan situation, he observed that Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had taken an initiative to solve the problem once and for all by ensuring formation of a parliamentary committee on Balochistan.

About appointment of administrators for the local bodies' election, he said a decision had been taken to appointment administrators and it would be announced before notification of the election schedule.

He said there was no contradiction in his statement and that of Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on the matter, adding that he did not know the exact date of administrators' appointment. He said according to Dr Rahim, all four chief ministers favoured appointment of administrators. He claimed that such a set up would ensure fair and transparent elections.

Referring to a criminal assault on a lady doctor in Sui, he said, investigations were under way and justice would be ensured to the women. He said the Sindh chief minister had met her but the matter was not publicized keeping in mind the self-respect of the woman and her family.

About bifurcation of the Hyderabad district, he said different proposals were under consideration and the decision would be taken in the larger interest of people.

About publication of a letter in a newspaper, issued by the National Crisis Management Cell to provincial functionaries, levelling charges of extortion against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said the MQM was an important ally of the government and he believed that it was not involved in such activities. However, he added, quarters concerned were looking into the matter.

The minister also handed over documents of propriety rights to 171 villagers of Goth Sarhandiabad, Tando Mohammad, under the Sindh Goth Abad Scheme. He said the revenue department would regularize 26,000 villages in Sindh.