HYDERABAD, Nov 12: The president of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-QA) Sindh, Sardar Ghous Bux Mahar, has said that following terrorist attacks on America on September 11, Pakistan was passing through a critical phase and India had unleashed baseless propaganda against the country as if it was waiting for such an opportunity.

He was talking to newsmen at meet the press programme of the Hyderabad press club here on Monday. Aleem Adil Shaikh and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

Mr Mahar said that the decision taken by Musharraf government following the terrorist attacks was in the best interests of the country.

He said that the government was also trying that the bombardment on Afghanistan should be stopped as soon as possible.

He said that the people had the right to express their sentiments in a peaceful manner but they had no right to resort to violence and destruction of public and private property.

He said that the country’s economy was not in good condition and it was necessary that non-development expenditure should be curtailed, corruption should be completely eliminated and sick mills should be revived.

He said that the revival of the economy was not possible without investment and inflow of capital and added that private sector must play a leading role to eliminate rampant unemployment.

PML-QA leader stressed that we cannot depend on others for the revival of economy and had to take initiative in this regard and said that the need of the hour was to ensure a trade surplus.

He pointed out that another important issue was that of water shortage and said, without naming Punjab, that those sitting at the heads of the rivers were more greedy.

Referring to the causes of water shortage, he said that some of them were natural while the others were related to the irrigation system of the country.

Mr Mahar said that the barrages in upper Sindh were designed to provide water supply to only 33 per cent cultivatable land of the area.

He said that while there had been no increase in the quantity of water, the cultivation had increased to hundred per cent. He stressed the need for taping more water resources and storing water in the catchments areas.

He said that there was no need of big dams but small storage reservoirs should be constructed.

He proposed that each federal unit should designate two irrigation experts to recommend ways and means for finding a permanent solution to the water problem.

He regretted that the prices of the major cash crops especially cotton and rice, which formed major part of the country’s exports, were even less than their cost of production.

He said that balance must be maintained between the inputs and the outputs of the crops.

Answering a question about the influx of Afghan refugees, he said that they should not be allowed to become a burden on our economy or our population.

He said that Afghan nationals should be kept in camps in Afghan territory on the borders.

About Syed Ghous Ali Shah, he said that he had gone abroad for treatment and would certainly return home as soon as his treatment was over.