"The government is firm on its stance on the issue and it has no intention to retreat," he told a news conference here on Friday. "The issue of water reservoirs has become a matter of life and death, and it has to be resolved in the tenure of President Musharraf," he added.
"As far as consensus on the issue is concerned we are doing as much as we can in this regard, but now time has come to move forward in this direction," he said.
Lashing out at the elements opposing the dams, the minister said that those "who are now talking" of Pakistan Resolution were in fact those who had opposed the said resolution. "Would the army wish to see its armour sunk?" he questioned. "What is being done is in the interests of Sindh, and certain elements are spreading poisonous propaganda against Punjab," he said. "It is Punjab, which is giving sacrifices in the shape of subsidies. Punjab has always given sacrifices and is also ready for it even now," he added.
Due to paucity of water, total cotton crop of Sindh is not more than that of two districts of Punjab. The situation of wheat is also more or less the same in Sindh, he said.
He said that feasibility reports of new dams were in accordance with international standards, and reports of technical and parliamentary committees on water reservoirs were in favour of Kalabagh dam (KBD). In the parliamentary committee report, only one out of 9 members has proposed construction of Bhasha dam first. But, he pointed out, Bhasha dam would store only glacial water, while KBD will be able to store all kinds of water, including glacial water and monsoon water.
He said that parliamentary committee report has been presented in the Senate and it could also be tabled in National Assembly. As far as funds for the KBD are concerned, these are available, as the world understands it is most profitable project.
Regarding opposition to dams by Sindh Chief Minister, Rashid said his reservations and apprehensions were being removed. About the possibility of holding referendum on the issue of new reservoirs, the minister said he was not aware of it. About regional parties he said that they had been working on their own missions for many years but failed to get support from the public.
Regarding Balochistan situation, he said: "We know the supporters of the miscreants and the elements providing them money with their gloved hands." It is responsibility of the government to give a tit for tat reply to such elements.
"We know that these are the elements who were responsible for cycle bomb explosions in Lahore and who is giving them training." He said that there was no 1971-like situation in Pakistan and there was no threat to Pakistan.
About the quake-hit areas, he said that so far the government had distributed Rs 20 billion among the affectees. If need be, more money will be provided to them, as government is not short of funds. About the Kashmir policy, the minister said India would have to make progress in this regard. However, he said that back channel efforts were on to resolve the issue and "we have proposed withdrawal of troops and self-governance there."