This was announced by Provincial Minister for Information, Asif Iqbal Daudzai while replying the point of order of Qurban Ali Khan of PPP-Parliamentarian and Khalil Abbas Khattak of ANP demanding the clarification of the government over the matter.
He informed the house that a private television channel first flushed out the news and we responded to it shortly. He said that later spokesman of Pakistan Army, Major General Shaukat Sultan clarified that the provinces had authorised the President in the matter of NFC Award. However, he said that the provincial government had conditionally authorised him.
The provincial minister said as far as the matter of water reservoirs was concern the province had a vast area of agricultural land requiring the supply of water. However, he said for this purpose, the federal government had been urged for initiating projects having national consensus. He said that in the wake of the devastated earthquake of October 8, the nation had exhibited great national unity and it should again be repeated on the important matter like the construction of water reservoirs in the country.
The matter was first raised by Qurban Ali Khan, who said that the matter was related to the whole province, therefore, he called for inclusion of the matter on the agenda of the house for holding detailed discussion on it.
Khalil Abbass Khattak said that according to the statement of President General Pervez Musharraf, the chief ministers of all four provinces had authorised him to decide the fate of important issues like construction of water reservoirs and announcement of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
He said that the NWFP Assembly in past had passed a number of unanimous resolution against the project. But, the contentions of President Pervez Musharraf had spread concern among the people of the province.
Mukhtiar Ali Khan of ANP also supported the contentions of Qurban Ali Khan and Khalil Abbas Khattak. Maulana Amanat Shah of treasury benches said that a report prepared by the parliamentary committee headed by Senator Nisar Memon had also mentioned that the provinces had consensus on the construction of Bhasha Dam, which speak the stand of the provincial government over the matter.
Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai of PML-Q said that no doubt the country was required the construction of water reservoirs. She said that the feasibility report of Bhasha Dam would be completed in 2009, therefore, work on the construction of Kalabagh Dam should be started to save the country from the imminent shortage of water.
Maulana Mujahid interrupted and said that the President had raised the matter of Kalabagh Dam for prolonging his rule. "We reject Kalabagh Dam," vowed Maulana from District Nowshera.
In reply to the point of orders, NWFP Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Sardar Mohammad Idrees said that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to the province, both federal and provincial governments had been agreed that the matter is technical and would be resolved technically.
"The provincial government had not provided any way out to the federal government," he clarified the position of the provincial government. He said that the technical experts of the provincial and federal governments would meet shortly to have a briefing over the matter.
Israrullah Khan Gandapur of PPP-Sherpao raised the matter of the construction of left canal from Chashma Right Bank Canal to irrigate the barren agricultural lands of DI Khan. He said that the construction of left canals would help irrigate 284,000-hecters of agricultural land. He said that in the light of the resolution of the provincial government in Central Working Development Party (CWDP) federal government should immediately start construction work on the left canal.
He said that the provincial government had promised that it would bear the maintenance expenses of the canal, but now the CWDP had termed it financially inviable. In this connection, Israrullah Khan Gandapur and Maulana Amanat Shah Haqqani moved a joint resolution, which was adopted by the house unanimously. The contents of the resolution were that the federal government instead of initiating controversial projects should prefer the construction of left canals for provision of water for agricultural purposes. Later, the house was opened for discussion on the measures of the government in the wake of devastated earthquake of October 8.
Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat of PML (N), Shehzada Mohammad Gustasip Khan, Shagufta Naz of MMA and Ghazala Habib of PPP-Sherpao took part in the debate.
The deputy speaker, who was chairing the session, adjourned the proceedings of the house till Monday January 2, 2006.