Nation united on the urgencey of dams: Shaukat
MULTAN: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday new water reservoirs, which were dire need of the country, would be built with consensus and the whole nation was united on urgently addressing the issue.
Talking to various delegations representing Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), growers, PML legislators, Nazims and local journalists at the Circuit House, the prime minister said: "The whole nation is united on the urgency of this issue so that our irrigation and power needs could be adequately fulfilled."
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Federal Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan, provincial Minister for Agricultural Marketing Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon and District Nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister said new dams would be constructed after consultations and the opposition parties would also be taken into confidence on this vital subject. He said Pakistan had a great potential in agriculture sector and if new methods of husbandry would improve productivity and bring prosperity to the farmers community.
Shaukat said the existing dams were facing silting problem. "But now, water reservoirs are built on scientific methods which do not create desiltation problem," he said. He said southern Punjab has great potential for setting up agro industry. He urged the local industrialists and entrepreneurs to focus on this hitherto ignored sector.
Talking to various delegations representing Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), growers, PML legislators, Nazims and local journalists at the Circuit House, the prime minister said: "The whole nation is united on the urgency of this issue so that our irrigation and power needs could be adequately fulfilled."
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Federal Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan, provincial Minister for Agricultural Marketing Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon and District Nazim Mian Faisal Mukhtar were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister said new dams would be constructed after consultations and the opposition parties would also be taken into confidence on this vital subject. He said Pakistan had a great potential in agriculture sector and if new methods of husbandry would improve productivity and bring prosperity to the farmers community.
Shaukat said the existing dams were facing silting problem. "But now, water reservoirs are built on scientific methods which do not create desiltation problem," he said. He said southern Punjab has great potential for setting up agro industry. He urged the local industrialists and entrepreneurs to focus on this hitherto ignored sector.
PPP lawmaker to challenge govt in ICG
ISLAMABAD: Lawmaker of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Mujeeb Pirzada Monday challenged the announcement for construction of Kalabagh dam and vowed to take this issue before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking on a point of order he said the president is representing the federation and did not have constitutional powers to announce the construction of Kalabagh dam. "Under article 164 of the Constitution, the Council of Common Interest was assigned to settle controversial issues among the federating units and this council is still not constituted," he added.
He said the water issue has been settled in the 1991 Water Accord among the federating units and there is no space for the construction of any controversial dam on which the federating units have any differences.
He said President Musharraf has no right to take such an important decision all by himself as it right of people of Sindh are against this controversial project.
Responding to another point of order by Mujeeb Pirzada, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi said the Council of Common Interest CCI was established in 1991 and set a criteria regarding water distribution and usage and Punjab will construct this dam, as it is necessity of the hour. He said under the 1991 Water Accord, the provinces could construct dams on their allocated share. " Either the Kalabagh dam constructed or not it is not come under the purview of CCI," he added.
ISLAMABAD: Lawmaker of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians Mujeeb Pirzada Monday challenged the announcement for construction of Kalabagh dam and vowed to take this issue before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking on a point of order he said the president is representing the federation and did not have constitutional powers to announce the construction of Kalabagh dam. "Under article 164 of the Constitution, the Council of Common Interest was assigned to settle controversial issues among the federating units and this council is still not constituted," he added.
He said the water issue has been settled in the 1991 Water Accord among the federating units and there is no space for the construction of any controversial dam on which the federating units have any differences.
He said President Musharraf has no right to take such an important decision all by himself as it right of people of Sindh are against this controversial project.
Responding to another point of order by Mujeeb Pirzada, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi said the Council of Common Interest CCI was established in 1991 and set a criteria regarding water distribution and usage and Punjab will construct this dam, as it is necessity of the hour. He said under the 1991 Water Accord, the provinces could construct dams on their allocated share. " Either the Kalabagh dam constructed or not it is not come under the purview of CCI," he added.
Fazl calls for construction of Bhasha dam
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday urged the government to arrange, through Wapda, a detailed technical briefing on the Kalabagh dam issue for all the heads of political parties and bring the matter to parliament.
"We are not opposing the government on this issue for the sake of opposition. In fact, we are of the view that the government should announce immediate construction of those water reservoirs on which there is a consensus," he told newsmen at the Parliament House.
Fazl said there was almost a broader consensus on Bhasha dam and therefore the government should announce its construction. "There is an urgent need to address grievances of the provinces which are opposed to Kalabagh dam. The provinces have their stated positions on this issue, and they think that this dam would inundate many areas and rest would be rendered barren," he added.
Terming statements of the president and the prime minister on the issue of water reservoirs uncalled for, Fazl said their statements had actually confused the nation.
ISLAMABAD: Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday urged the government to arrange, through Wapda, a detailed technical briefing on the Kalabagh dam issue for all the heads of political parties and bring the matter to parliament.
"We are not opposing the government on this issue for the sake of opposition. In fact, we are of the view that the government should announce immediate construction of those water reservoirs on which there is a consensus," he told newsmen at the Parliament House.
Fazl said there was almost a broader consensus on Bhasha dam and therefore the government should announce its construction. "There is an urgent need to address grievances of the provinces which are opposed to Kalabagh dam. The provinces have their stated positions on this issue, and they think that this dam would inundate many areas and rest would be rendered barren," he added.
Terming statements of the president and the prime minister on the issue of water reservoirs uncalled for, Fazl said their statements had actually confused the nation.
The News International
posted by zaicha | Wednesday, December 07, 2005
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