ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has convened a high-level inter-provincial meeting here on Tuesday on the crucial question of construction of new dams in the country Informed sources told Dawn on Monday that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, all the four chief ministers, federal minister for water and power, federal secretary and adviser on water and power, Wapda chairman, chief engineering adviser and senior officials of the General Headquarters and Pakistan Engineering Corps would attend the meeting.
These sources said no formal agenda had been distributed among the participants but construction of future dams would be the key topic at the meeting in addition to all water sector issues facing the country.
They said the president was expected to take the provincial chief ministers and other participants into confidence about the homework done so far on the construction of new dams and a possible announcement in the next few days.
The meeting would review recommendations of two committees on water resources led by Senator Nisar Memon and A.N.G Abbasi besides a presentation on future dams by Wapda.
Water and Power Secretary Ashfaq Mehmood on Monday attended detailed meetings in Rawalpindi in this regard and later held another round with senior officials of the water and power ministry, including adviser on water and power Riaz Ahmed Khan and federal flood commission chairman I.B. Sheikh.
The sources said the president would also share with top policy-makers an advice from political leaders of the government to delay the announcement of construction of big dams for the time being, otherwise the ruling Pakistan Muslim League would be wiped out from Sindh and NWFP in the general elections.
