May 19, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, May 18: Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan has launched a move to woo the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan to agree to the construction of water reservoirs, including the Kalabagh dam.

In his first meeting with Sindh Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Sohrab Khan Sarki and Balochistan Minister for S&GAD Rahman Jamali here on Thursday, the federal minister initiated efforts to remove the reservations of both provinces on distribution of water.

Both Sindh and Balochistan provinces are opposing the construction of Kalabagh dam on the ground that its construction in Sindh will deprive them of their fair share in the Indus river system.

In the meeting issues pertaining to inter-provincial harmony on water reservoirs, rural-urban divide in Sindh, conversion of levies into a police force in Balochistan and law and order situation in both the provinces came under discussion.

The federal minister directed the provincial minister for inter-provincial coordination Sindh to play his role for removing reservations of Sindh province about the construction of water reservoirs.

He said that President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz both were keen to promote inter-provincial harmony and improve relations between the centre and the provinces, which was why he was assigned the task.

He also discussed the proposal for holding a parliamentary convention to be attended by MPAs from all the four provinces to promote inter-provincial harmony.