PESHAWAR, Sept 14: Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao has said that all water reservoirs would be built through a national consensus, adding that there was no room for any project that was detrimental to the interests of the federating units.

Talking to a delegation of PPP (Sherpao) here, the minister said the party would fight for provincial autonomy and every effort would be made to ensure the province got its rights, which would strengthen the federation, according to a press release issued here on Sunday.

Mr Sherpao said the reservations of provinces to the construction of vital water reservoirs would be removed in a democratic way.

The minister criticized the MMA government, saying it had maltreated the opposition parties in the NWFP. He claimed that the MMA’s popularity had waned owing to its policies.

APP adds: Mr Sherpao said agriculture was the backbone of national economy and water reservoirs were largely needed for strengthening this sector.

He said with the development of an agro-based economy, the country would achieve economic prosperity and self-sufficiency.

The country, he said, was in dire need of water and this problem could only be solved through the construction of reservoirs.