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Water losses to
be overcome: Musharraf
ISLAMABAD-President Gen Pervez
Musharraf Thursday said the government would ensure equitable
distribution of water among the provinces and improve the
existing irrigation system on modern lines to overcome water
losses.
The President gave this assurance during the meeting with
former Federal Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar Lalika, who
called on him here Thursday. He said he was fully aware of the
difficulties being faced by the farmers and already issued
directives to ensure availability of sufficient waters to them
this season.
According to a press note issued after the meeting, the
President directed the authorities concerned, including
provincial governments, Pakistan Agriculture supply and
Storage Corporation (PASSCO) and food departments to enter the
wheat procurement process this season. "The interests of
farmers would be fully safeguarded and wheat would be lifted
at the price fixed for procurement," he added.
The President said the directives has also been issued to the
commerce ministry and the trading corporation of Pakistan
(TCP) to purchase cotton that was still available in the
market either with the farmers or ginners.
The President told the former minister that water management
and building of water reservoirs were among the high
priorities of his government. "Unfortunately this vital sector
of the economy was totally neglected due to wrong policies of
the past governments," the president regretted.
President Musharraf said that in addition to building new
reservoirs, the government is also undertaking steps for water
conservation and its better utilization. The President said
various measures are being taken to save around 35
million-acre feet of water resources that are wasted because
of inefficiencies in the distribution.
Abdul Sattar Lalika told reporters after the meeting that the
president has assured that the steps will be taken to ensure
that farmers get fair price for their wheat produce. He
expressed the confidence that various water projects like
Mirani Dam, Gomal Zam and Korum Tangi, launched by the present
government will contribute in addressing the country's water
shortage problem.
He also regretted that the past governments wasted national
wealth on non-development projects and lavishly spent funds on
construction of palatial and grandiose structures, which, he
said, did not benefit the poor in any way.
Appreciating the Punjab province decision to share its water
with Sindh, the former agriculture minister said it was good
gesture from the Punjab to help out the Sindh province in the
hour of need.
Courtesy The News March
29, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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