Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri has said that the previous rulers had raised the issue of Kalabagh dam only to exploit the province and adopting divide-and-rule policy only to achieve their personal goals.
Addressing a news conference here at Berani Town, District Sanghar, she said that Kalabagh dam "is not feasible" for the country as it could not generate hydel electricity nor would have the ability to store 6.1 million acre-feet (MAF) water as according to reports of the experts, the country has only 2 MAF water at present.
She said that the present government has received many challenges, which include the construction of water reservoirs, NFC Award, unemployment and protection to the life and property of law abiding people.
Similarly, she said, the people have reservations on National Finance Commission Award and claiming it a clear injustice with the province. The present provincial government is preparing consideration and will refer to federal government so that the reservations of the people could be settled, she added.
About the problem of unemployment, the minister said that only 40,000 jobs are available in provincial government against millions of jobless youth. Besides encouraging the private sector, the present government is striving to bring foreign sector so that the problem of unemployment could be overcome.
About energy crisis, she said that Thar coal project is being revived to overcome the crisis. The effective strategy regarding Thar coal project would definitely resolve the crises which are being faced by the people of the country at present, she added.
The minister expressed dismay over the performance of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company and asked the officials concerned to overcome the problem of increasing power outage. She also asked them to avoid issuing detection bills to consumers.
About residential schemes for journalists, the provincial information minister said that it was the only PPP government, which initiated actions for the welfare of journalists' community in the past by providing them housing schemes. The journalists' community of the province will soon hear good news in this regard, she added.