January 4, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 3, 1426

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SUKKUR, Jan 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that he and President Gen Pervez Musharraf are trying hard to remove reservations of the provinces about the Kalabagh dam because construction of dams is necessary for the country.

No journalists, including those from the electronic media, were allowed to meet the prime minister or to attend different meetings he held during his visit to Ghotki on Tuesday.

According to members of a delegation who called on Mr Aziz, the prime minister met the Mahar brothers and other chieftains of the area.

The prime minister expressed concern over the shortage of water in the Guddu Barrage and asked landlords of the area, especially Mahar Sardars, to decrease paddy cultivation in the area to cope with the water shortage.

Earlier, Mr Aziz, accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Federal Minister Ghaus Bux Mahar, visited Sardar Garh and attended a luncheon hosted by UAE Prince Shaikh Sultan Bin Nahiyaan.

He then went to the Gohar Palace, Khan Garh, where he met the Mahar brothers, including former Ghotki district nazim Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar, State Minister Raja Mahar and former Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar. Many other Sardars of the area, including Rahim Bux Khan Bozdar, Ahmad Yar Khan Shar, Sardar Khan Shar, Karam Ellahi Mahesar, Chakar Khan Bozdar and Hazar Khan Bozdar, were also present.

According to sources, Ali Mohammad Mahar told the prime minister that former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had announced gas supply to 48 villages of the Ghotki district but the areas were still without gas facility. He said that funds announced by the president had also not been received as yet. The prime minister assured him that he would order immediate release of the funds.

Mr Aziz said Rs23 billion had been allocated to the Sindh government to complete ongoing development works and initiate new schemes as well.

Sukkur District Nazim Syed Nasir Hussain Shah urged prime minister to readdress reservations of the provinces about the construction of the Kalabagh dam.

The prime minister also held a separate meeting in a closed room with the Mahar brothers and other people belonging to the Mahar group.

APP ADDS: The prime minister said the government was committed to development of Sindh and improving the quality of life of its people.

He was talking to Minister of State for Industries Sardar Ali Nawaz Mahar who called on him in Khan Garh and discussed ongoing development schemes in the district.