KB Dam not be built without consensus of all provinces: Gilani

      
KARACHI, Oct 26 (APP):  Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said Tuesday that construction of Kala Bagh Dam will not be executed without consensus of all  the provinces. This, he said while talking to the Editors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Sindhi newspapers and television channels at a meeting at Sindh Chief Minister House here.Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani termed the economic stability and maintenance of law and order situation as first and second priorities of the government.He said the government is pursuing the policy of reconciliation, which, he said was also  the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Speaking about his visit to Karachi, the Prime Minister said the objective of his visit to Karachi is to have a direct interaction with the Sindhi media.
He said that he has done media studies and same is the reason of his personal emotional attachment with the media. The studies of journalism have  benefitted him in the field of politics, he added.
Terming the role of Sindhi media at the time of the founding of Pakistan as very constructive and positive, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the role of Sindhi media in Pakistan was unforgettable.
He said the role of political leadership of Sindh and their struggle for the cause of democracy is also laudable.
He said the chapter which has been marked by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto against dictatorship will always be remembered by the future generations.
He said it is an honour for Sindh that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto embraced martyrdom and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also sacrificed her life for the protection of rights of the people.
Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the process of transition from dictatorship toward democracy is underway in the country and institutions are also passing through a phase of evolution.
The Prime Minister said we faced different challenges but never deviated from the manifesto of the party.
He also said that a meeting would be held in Lahore on Wednesday, where Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will brief about the break-through achieved in his recent visit  to USA.
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said the economic recession has affected the entire globe but Pakistan survived as, fortunately it is an agricultural country.
He said there are coalition governments in all provinces. The Prime Minister said the matter of Thar coal has also  been resolved and the provincial government is working on it.
He said  the Chief Ministers of all the provinces were taken on-board on the matter of construction of Bhasha Dam.
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that we have also added about 2000 mega watts of electricity in the power generation system and more will also be added by the end of this year but the demand is also increasing due to population growth.
The Editors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Sindhi newspapers and television channels informed the Prime Minister about their problems.
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani assured them that he will talk to the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting to meet with the Sindhi media representatives to resolve their problems.
To a suggestion with regard to performance of  Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), he said that he will also meet with the newly appointed Managing Director of PTV to discuss different matters with him with regard to improvement in the performance of PTV.
He said everyone acknowledges that Karachi is an economic hub and a mini-Pakistan and all of us should jointly ensure maintenance of peace in the city.
He told another questioner that Pakistan is 5th largest milk producer in the world.
He said the recent massive flood has badly damaged the livestock sector in the country.
He said re-construction of houses of flood victims and their resettlement is among the top priorities of the government, which was, he said also agreed in a meeting of Chief Ministers of all provinces.
He said the provision of financial aid in  the shape of cash transfer to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Swat and Malakand was a biggest success story in  the world and we intend to replicate the same strategy for the flood victims.
He said the flood victims are being paid financial assistance through a transparent process of Smart-Card.
The Prime Minister was informed that around 35 Sindhi dailies and 10 to 12 private Sindhi television channels belong to Sindh, which are playing an important role in the media.
The Editors and CEOs of the Sindhi newspapers and television channels conveyed their problems and suggestions to the Prime Minister.
Earlier, the Sindh CM presented the traditional gift of Sindh “Sindhi Topi and Ajrak” to the Prime Minister.
The Editors and CEOs of Sindh newspapers and television channels were also presented Sindhi Topi and Ajrak.
Among other notables, Sindh CM, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Provincial Information Advisor, Ms. Sharmila Farooqui, Advisor to Sindh CM Rashid Rabbani and Special Assistant to Sindh CM, Waqar Mehdi  were also present.
In the beginning of the meeting “fateha” were also offered for Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and others.