Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah said on Thursday the government was determined to construct more dams including Kalabagh dam as those were essential for boosting agriculture and producing cheap energy.
Talking to PTV, he said the dams would be constructed after making consensus over it so that any province had no misunderstanding over this issue. Replying to a question about inter-provincial harmony, he said the government realised its importance and the "Inter Provincial Coordination Committee," which was just a wing in past, was now declared as a division.
It was a good forum where the issues regarding the provinces were discussed, he said, adding its next meeting would be held in May in Quetta. He said now the provinces were getting stronger financially, and they were returning back their loans to federal government instead of taking more loans.
Saifullah said district governments were also playing important role in the development of the country and the development programmes of district governments were appreciable. He said the taxes, charged over oil, gas and electricity, were consumed by the related province, adding the target for 2011 was to give the 50 percent of the revenue to the provinces collected.
"We realise the problem faced by the people of Frontier regarding the road network and are making efforts in this regard, he said, adding Lowari Tunnel would be constructed soon and the suggestion for Malakand Tunnel is also under consideration." He recalled that there was no restriction over the movement of wheat or any other food item at provincial level.