KARACHI, Aug 30: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said here on Saturday construction of dams was not a political but an economic issue and should be looked at from an economic point of view.

He was replying to the reporters’ questions after talks with Pir Saheb Pagara at Kingri House.

When asked why he was favouring Kalabagh dam and Thal canal project, the prime minister said: “We will go for what will be in the interest of Pakistan.”

He pointed out that “Pakistan is a federation and its four provinces are the partners and everyone has a right over River Indus. Our effort is to do what is needed in the interest and well-being of the country.”

Mr Jamali said: “If there will be storages we will be able to conserve water. Tarbela and Mangla dams are there, but (more) dams have to be constructed, no matter what name they are given.”

If dams were not constructed and water not stored and distributed among the provinces as per their share, how could the country be managed, he wondered, and added: “Only this is the issue and nothing else.” In the first stage, he said, reservoirs were needed; after which, the question of judicious distribution of water arose.

The prime minister said all the provinces should get due share for running the affairs of the federation smoothly.

When asked about the talks between Pakistan and India on air links, Prime Minister Jamali said meeting of the two sides on Aug 27 was the first one. “We want to proceed step by step” with India on all issues, he added.

Pakistani officials would go to New Delhi to discuss resumption of flights between India and Pakistan, he added.

“We are making efforts to pave way for a meaningful and conclusive dialogue.”

Responding to a question, the prime minister termed the Friday bomb blast in Najaf, Iraq, as unfortunate, and said its gravity increased as the day chosen by the terrorists was Friday.

He said no one supported terrorism and Pakistan itself continued to be its victim and, as such, condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

To a question about talks with the opposition and rumours regarding danger to the political setup, the prime minister said the situation was not new to him and his government’s endeavour was to find an honourable solution.

“We have come to the assemblies after contesting the elections, not for the first time but for many times in the past. There is nothing new in it for us.” When asked about his talks with Pir Pagara, Mr Jamali said they held talks on various political issues, including the unification of the PML factions.

The prime minister said he had always held Pir Sahib in high esteem as an elder and as an experienced politician.

As far as the government was concerned, Mr Jamali added, it wanted to benefit from the experience of Pir Saheb.—APP