PESHAWAR, Aug 30: The PML-Q has endorsed the decision of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to construct Kalabagh dam and criticized the stand of Awami National Party on the issue.

In a press statement issued here on Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League-Q Secretary Information Malik Riaz advocate said that the Awami National Party wanted to gain political limelight by issuing contentious statements against the construction of Kalabagh dam.

The ANP could not browbeat government through threats of blowing the dam if it constructed as the nation knew the importance of Kalabagh dam and the prosperous future attached with its construction, he maintained.

He said that owing to non-construction of Kalabagh dam on Indus River, about 200,000 cusec water out of total 300,000 fell into the ocean without utilizing them for power generation and agriculture purposes.

He added that the Pakistan Muslim League-Q would not shirk from giving any sacrifice for the construction of the dam and would also not allow the Awami Natinal Party to politicize the issue any further.

Projects termed vital: Meanwhile, supporting the construction of Kalabagh and Bhasha dams, district Nazim Haripur Dr Raja Amer Zaman termed these projects vital for economic prosperity of the country, our Correspondents adds from Haripur.

However, he demanded an end to the miseries of the public and more incentives for the victims of Tarbela and Khanpur dams.

Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, the Nazim said that the two hydropower projects were of great significance owing to growing need of cheaper electricity and depletion of already existing sources in the country.

He said the people of Haripur had suffered more than others for national cause but in return they received nothing but woes and miseries to live with.

He demanded that as a first step towards the lessening of difficulties of victims of Tarbela and Khanpur, the federal government should at least earmark 10 per cent of the net profit of Tarbela and Ghazi Barotha power projects for the people of Haripur.