KARACHI, Dec 28: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that the provincial government agrees with President Musharraf’s ‘Water Vision 2006-2016’ and favours construction of big dams to meet shortage of water and power in the country, but it demands that Bhasha Dam be built first.

He was talking to a delegation of the Sindh Abadgar Board, Chamber of Agriculture, Sugarcane Growers Association and landowners which called on him at the CM’s House here on Wednesday.

Dr Arbab said the provincial government had serious reservations with regard to the construction of Kalabagh Dam and removal of the reservations was necessary.

He categorically stated that Sindh would never accept Kalabagh Dam with canals.

“A constitutional guarantee has to be given on water issue, and no amendment to it should be made without unanimous approval by the Sindh Assembly. Besides, judicial and administrative guarantees to the satisfaction of Sindh people were needed to be given,” he said.

He said his government had demanded that the 1991 accord be implemented in letter and spirit, telemetry system be put in order and its in-charge be appointed from Sindh. The Sindh government would never go against the interests of the province, he declared.—PPI