KARACHI, April 18: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that economy of the country, its nuclear programme and military power is dependent on Sindh , which contributes more than 70 per cent to the national exchequer, without which the system will not survive even for a week.

Speaking at a joint workers' meeting, organized in various cities of Sindh, Mr Hussain pointed out that the people from all over the country came to Sindh for employment, peace and better life and its land was a sanctuary for all people, irrespective of their colour, creed, language and religion.

He said that if the claim of certain elements, who accused people of Sindh of hating and discriminating against the people of other provinces, was true then the people of Sindh would not have allowed them to settle in Sindh.

Saying "Sindh feeds Pakistan but starves itself," the MQM chief demanded that all anti-Sindh projects must be stopped forthwith and the province be provided its legitimate share in the National Finance Commission Award and the unanimous resolutions adopted by the Sindh Assembly on Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam be honoured.

Mr Hussain called for giving employment to permanent residents of Sindh in all the institutions, industries and corporations in the province. Likewise, he said local residents must be employed in police, Rangers and army.

"We would like to see a strong Pakistan, however, it is our right to peacefully struggle for our rights, which is also supported by the UN charter," he said. "The philosophy of realism and pragmatism is no longer confined to Karachi, Hyderabad and other cities, but it has now spread all over the province," he added.

Praising the Sindhi-speaking workers for spreading the MQM message throughout the province, Mr Hussain said that results of the recent by-elections of local bodies stand witness to their efforts.