Punjab to get due share of water, says Shahbaz

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has assured him that the province would get water as per the agreed formula, and the news regarding giving Punjab’s share to Sindh was baseless.
Shahbaz Sharif was talking to the representatives of the press here on Friday outside the Punjab Assembly building.
While referring to the statements given by Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed and PML-N Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa on the floor of the House, Shahbaz Sharif told the mediamen that he had talked to the Premier about the issue, who had rejected the media reports about the water cut as baseless. “The Punjab will get its full share,” said Shahbaz, while quoting PM Gilani.
The CM further added that water was the lifeline of agriculture, and none of the provinces, whether Punjab or Sindh, would give its due share to anyone. “Pakistan is a federation of four provinces, and all Pakistanis will benefit from water mutually. The provinces will use water as per the agreed-formula so that all their due right, and no confusion is created,” he maintained, while adding that in case of any crisis, the provinces could again sit together.
While replying to another question about Nawaz Sharif’s acquittal from the court, he said the decision was taken by an independent judiciary, and he was witness to the previous decision of the court held at the Attock Fort, which was meant for the anti-Pakistan elements. “The first decision was given during the rule of a military dictator (General Pervez Musharraf),” he said, while pointing out difficulties the Sharifs went through during their incarceration at the Fort. “A dictator’s judge was appointed to give a specific judgement, while we were not allowed to have consultations even,” he added.
Earlier, Shahbaz Sharif, in his meeting with parliamentarians, said billions of rupees had been allocated in the provincial budget for the projects of public welfare and provision of basic amenities to the masses and completion of these projects would leave a positive impact on the life of the common man. “The Annual Development Programme has been prepared in accordance with the needs of the people and top priority has been given to the projects aimed at poverty alleviation and elimination of ignorance and unemployment from the province. Huge funds of Rs 175 billion have been allocated for the ADP, which will result in promotion of economic activities in the province,” he said, while stressing upon Assembly Members to ensure public participation in development activities as well as solution of peoples’ problems.