SUKKUR, May 30: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that his government has not changed stance over the NFC award. Talking to newsmen at the Sukkur airport on Monday, he said if the provinces failed to take any decision about the NFC award then President Musharraf had the powers to decide about the NFC award at his own.

He said the president had given patient hearing to all representatives of the provinces.

He said it was at his discretion that what decision he would take to resolve the problem.

Mr Arbab said the provinces would have to suffer the loss due to differences among them over the NFC award.

Replying to a question, the Sindh chief minister said legal action would be taken against landlords and revenue officials allegedly involved in misappropriation of millions of rupees for purchase of land for construction of the Chhotiari dam. He said on the directives of President Musharraf, the dispute of the Chhotiari dam between the province and the federal government had been resolved.

He said the Chhotiari dam would irrigate thousands of acres of land in Umerkot, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar districts.

He said affected people of the Chhotiari dam would be given compensation while it has been named Makhi dam after the historical Makhi Lake.

Our Jacobabad correspondent adds: The chief minister claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League has served people and carried out more development works in the country as compared to governments of other parties.

He was speaking at a public meeting at the Mono Technical College ground in Kandhkot on Monday evening.

Dr Rahim announced a Rs5 billion package for the Kashmore district and upgraded the taluka hospital to a civil hospital.

He also announced to upgrade the higher secondary girls’ school to a degree college

He directed police chiefs of Larkana and Sukkur areas to fill vacant posts in the Sindh-Balochistan Border Force to maintain law and order.

The chief minister announced to provide five cars to the revenue department, besides two ambulances and a fire tender for the district.