May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

HYDERABAD, May 23: For-mer rulers raised Kalabagh dam issue just to exploit provinces by adopting divide and rule policy, said Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari.

Speaking at a news conference at Berani town in Sanghar district on Thursday, she said Kalabagh dam was not feasible as it cannot generate hydel electricity and nor the capacity to store 6.1 million acre feet (MAF) water according to report of experts. The country at present had only two MAF water.

She said the previous government exploited the issue only to achieve personal goals and divide people of all four provinces. This government was facing challenges such as construction of water reservoirs, the NFC Award, unemployment and protection to the life and property.

People had reservations on the National Finance Commis-sion Award as justice was not done to Sindh she said adding recommendations would be sent to federal government to ease their reservations.

Shazia Mari said only 40,000 job vacancies were available in the province against millions of jobless youth. Thar Coal Project was being revived overcome electricity crisis, she said.

The minister expressed dismay over the performance of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company and asked the officials concerned to overcome the problem of increasing power outages.

She said past PPP governments initiated measures for the welfare of journalists by providing them housing schemes while soon those in Sindh will hear good news in this regard.