SIALKOT, Dec 21: Punjab Power Minister Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani has said more than 1,100-million-acre water has been lost to sea during the last three decades owing to unavailability of big reservoirs.
Speaking to journalists at Sialkot Cantonment on Wednesday, he said Pakistan was a developing country mostly depending on its agro-based economy. The government was unable to save a huge quantity of rainy and floodwater owing to unavailability of dams, and provide electricity to farmers on subsidized rates for irrigation through the tubewells.
He stressed that construction of new water reservoirs was vital to country’s development and the government was making efforts to develop a consensus on the burning issue. He said thousands of acres of agricultural land had been lying useless for long.
The consumption of electricity was rising by eight to 10 per cent every year and there was source of production. Since there was a potential of development in the power sector, the private sector participation would be helpful in enhancing the sector’s performance.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Defence Zahid Hamid also stressed the need for early construction of a new reservoirs. Both President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were making all-out efforts to develop a consensus on this burning issue.
ELECTION: All main political parties, including the ruling PML, have yet to announce their candidates for the slots of district and tehsil naib nazims in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehsils. The elections are just a week away.
The political activities are in full swing, as leading figures are busy canvassing for their candidates. Prominent among them are National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Ameer Husain, State Minister for Defence Zahid Hamid, State Minister for Privatization and Investment Umer Ahmad Ghuman, State Minister for Information Technology Ali Asjad Malhi, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet Division Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Punjab Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, who is enjoying close relationship with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi.
According to independent political observers, the ruling PML still remains divided into five groups over nominations.
RECONCILIATION: The Punjab Teachers Union’s groups have patched up in the larger interest of the community, PTU provincial information secretary Abdul Rashid Nagra told journalists on Wednesday.
He said both Raja Zafeer Group and Jan Alam Group were united and had pledged to jointly struggle for the solution to the teaching community. Raja Zafeer Ahmad would be the central president and Jan Alam Khan central senior vice-president of the union, he said.
ABDUCTION: Four armed men abducted a girl from the Garrison Park here on Wedneaday.
She had gone out with her family for recreation. The Cantonment police have registered a case.
RECOVERED: The special bailiff of the Lahore High Court raided the Cantonment police station and recovered two brothers from illegal custody.
Reports said Adil and Faisal, who belong to Chungi Amar Sadhu, Lahore), were arrested and detained by the police a month ago.
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