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JAMSHORO, Jan 31: President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday stressed the need for building Kalabagh and Bhasha dams to overcome the water shortage and meet the agricultural needs of the country, particularly that of Sindh.
Addressing a gathering of intellectuals and faculty members and students of the University of Sindh, he asked people not to support those elements who were obstructing development activities.
He said that feasibility reports of both the dams were ready and added that the construction of dams was essential for Sindh as Kalabagh and Bhasha dams would respectively store 90 and 50 million acre feet (MAF) of water.
The president said that 250km of hilly areas would have to be levelled and 400km-long roads built to construct the Bhasha dam. Water would be stored in an area of 150 kilometres which, he said, was a difficult task, adding that it could take five years only to build roads and other infrastructure.
On the other hand, he said, Kalabagh dam could be built in six years. He said the country had been currently suffering a record loss of irrigation water which had been flowing into the sea. According to an estimate, 35 MAF water was lost into the sea every year, he said and added that this water could be stored if there were dams.
He said that under the 1991 water accord, Sindh was getting 2 per cent more water than its share. He said water could be released downstream Kotri to protect Badin and Thatta from sea intrusion if the country had storage dams.
He described mismanagement of irrigation water as the main reason for water shortage in the province, saying the influential did not release the due share of small growers. He vowed to ensure fair distribution of water in Sindh.
Gen Musharraf said that the construction of canals was going on in the country and added that for controlling seepage various projects at a cost of Rs66 billion were being executed.
He said that by ending the misuse of water, 3 MAF water would be made available for irrigation. He said that besides meeting agriculture requirements with new dams, power houses would be established that would generate electricity at low tariff.
He said that while Punjab had installed thousands of tube-wells, new canals and dams could make Sindh prosperous. Balochistan and the NWFP, he added, had not received their share of water in the absence of canals.
The president pledged that the water issue would be settled once and for all. He said people accused Punjab of using the share of Sindh, but added that Punjab had sacrificed 5,000 cusecs of its water and released it for Sindh.
Referring to the technical committee on water, he said it would soon submit its report which would be presented to parliament. He also emphasised the importance of other projects like Reni canal, Sehwan barrage, Thar coal and Chotiari dam. He said that the repair work of the Sukkur Barrage would be completed soon.
LITERACY RATE: President Musharraf said it was shameful for us that despite being a nuclear power Pakistan had only 48 per cent literacy. The literacy rate, he said, must be increased.
He asked students to take interest in technical education and information technology. He pointed out that one million students were getting religious education in seminaries and said that these students must also study other subjects.
He dispelled an impression that the government would take control of seminaries, saying what these institutions needed was an improvement in their educational curriculum and standard so that their students could also become doctors and engineers.
Referring to extremism, he said militancy was on the rise in religious institutions and people there were misusing loudspeakers to criticise the government and the army which should come to an end.
Gen Musharraf reiterated his resolve to take action against elements spreading sectarianism and said religious scholars should only lead prayers. About the funds earmarked for educational institutions, he said budgetary allocations for the education sector were Rs100 million which had been increased by 1,200 per cent to Rs9.1 billion.
The president announced that projects of Rs3.5 billion would be started in the Sindh University and 300 teachers would be sent abroad for PhD. He also announced Rs20 million for the construction of a library on the campus.
He observed that the Urdu- and Sindhi-speaking people had shunned their differences over the years and asked them to help each other. He said the government was bringing about educational reforms and referred to the Aga Khan Education Board which was being opposed by certain elements.
He emphasised the need for introducing good education boards in the country whose certificates carried weight. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro and Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Attaur Rehman were present.
SU Vice Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui presented a shield of the Sindh University, an ajrak and a Sindhi cap to the president.
