HYDERABAD, Aug 8: Liberal Forum of Pakistan chairman Asif Khan has said the provinces should be given maximum autonomy which will not only strengthen the provinces but also the federation.

He was speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday. Forum’s provincial coordinator M. Parkash was also present.

He said the Liberal Forum believed that all portfolios, except for defence, currency and foreign affairs, should be transferred to the provinces.

Mr Khan said shortage of water had affected the agriculture sector. He proposed that a new and judicious water policy should be formulated keeping in view the needs of the smaller provinces.

He said the smaller provinces should be taken into confidence before construction of big dams. He warned that without taking into consideration reservations of Sindh and the NWFP, construction of dams could undermine the unity of the country.

Expressing solidarity of the forum with people of Sindh, he said the National Finance Commission should be constituted without any further delay because it was creating misgivings in the minds of people of the smaller provinces.

He demanded that the local body elections should be held in a fair and transparent manner. He announced that the Liberal Forum would issue a whitepaper on the polls.

He maintained said unopposed election of so many candidates in Sindh spoke volumes for the pre-poll rigging.