Thursday, October 7, 2010

Kalabagh Dam again echoes in National Assembly

RECORDER REPORT ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday once again raised the controversial issue of Kalabagh Dam and spoke in favour and against it. Gul Muhammad Jakhrani of PPP from Jacobabad on a point of order criticised the recently passed resolution by the Punjab Assembly in favour of the Kalabagh Dam. He said the issue should not be discussed as three provincial assemblies have already discarded the project through resolutions.

The statement provoked other legislators from Punjab to come up with arguments in favour of the Dam. Ghulam Farid Kathia of PPP from Punjab argued in favour of the dam saying the project was need of the hour. He held that it is right of every provincial assembly to pass resolutions on whatever issue it wanted. "Punjab has just asked the other provinces to reconsider their stance on the issue and there is nothing wrong with it," he added.

Mahmood Hayat Khan Tochi of the PPP from Punjab was of the view that Punjab has passed the resolution for the 'betterment of the country'. He said the other provinces should reconsider their stance on the issue. Minister of State for Interior Tasneem Qureshi from PPP who hails from Punjab said that recent floods, shortage of electricity and water in the country has called for wise decisions keeping in view the national interest. He urged the political leadership to come up with a consensus formula for the construction of Kalabagh Dam.

Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk of PML-N from Punjab was of the view that time will come when other provinces will also endorse Punjab's point of view on the Kalabagh Dam. Araish Kumar of PML-N from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa stated that efforts are being made to infuse new life in the dead Kalabagh Dam. He suggested exploitation of Thar coal reserves as solution to energy crisis and added Kalabagh Dam issue should not be discussed anymore.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2010

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