KARACHI, Dec 2: Amid strong criticism from the opposition to the government’s move to build large dams, including the controversial Kalabagh dam, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday briefed the provincial coalition partners on how his government planned to address the problem of water shortage in the country.
Mr Aziz held separate meetings at the Chief Minister’s House with legislators of the Sindh provincial assembly belonging to Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Muslim League(F)and Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Independents, and exchanged views with them on the dam issue.
He also briefed them on measures the government had taken to initiate contacts with all political parties and stake-holders and discuss with them steps needed to be taken to meet the challenge of water shortage in the country, particularly the immediate need of taking up the work of building big reservoirs.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Speaker of the provincial assembly Muzaffar Hussain Shah attended one of the meetings.
According to sources, an MQM delegation led by Dr Farooq Sattar called on the prime minister and reiterated its stand of evolving national consensus before taking a decision on the controversial dam.
The prime minister, the sources said, informed the delegation that the government had already started contacts with other political parties to seek their viewpoint and reach a consensus.
According to the sources, the MQM delegation impressed upon the prime minister that it would support the government only if it was able to evolve consensus among political parties and the provinces.
The prime minister informed the delegations that the government had received three reports prepared by committees set up to look into the water reservoirs issue. This included the report prepared by the technical committee headed by Mr A. G. N Abbasi.
According to a government handout, the reports would be made public through media and presented to parliament and provincial assemblies.
The prime minister said there was consensus in all the reports that water reservoirs needed to be built to meet the requirement of irrigation and develop the agricultural sector which was the backbone of the economy. However, this was an issue of national importance and the government would take up the matter seriously with all political parties and stake-holders.
He said the government planned a series of meetings with parliamentarians as well as NGOs and members of civil society on the issue.
PPI adds: The Sindh chapter of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League on Friday welcomed efforts of the prime minister and the Sindh chief minister to take people into confidence on the issue of dams.
In a joint statement issued here, PML’s provincial office-bearers Ghaffar Qureshi, Semeen Siddiqui, Kunwar Arshad and Ehsan Elahi accused the opposition of hindering the country’s development process.
They said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz wanted to get all projects, which had been pending for many years, completed and people who had the public mandate and support had the right to work for people’s welfare.
KARACHI, Dec 2: Amid strong criticism from the opposition to the government’s move to build large dams, including the controversial Kalabagh dam, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday briefed the provincial coalition partners on how his government planned to address the problem of water shortage in the country.
