Power crisis: Call for consensus on Kalabagh Dam

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Call for consensus on KBD

Monday, April 19, 2010
By our correspondent

LAHORE: PML-Q Senator SM Zafar has stressed the need for a consensus among the political forces on Kalabagh Dam to end the prevailing power crisis in the country.

“The passage of the 18th Amendment is a very positive sign of consensus among the political forces, now politicians have another major responsibility and they must develop a consensus over the Kalabagh Dam, which is vital in the current situation,” said SM Zafar while addressing a seminar organised by the Mir Khalil-ur Rahman Memorial Society (MKRMS) and the Tameer-e-Pakistan Party (TPP) here on Sunday. The seminar was held on the topic of ‘Role of Political Parties under Current Circumstances’. The programme was chaired by Wasif Nagi whereas welcome and concluding address was delivered by Aziz Awan of the TPP.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator SM Zafar said the consensus over the 18th Amendment was a positive sign but it had also raised questions within the public whether it contained anything for people or not. He said first of all, we must realise that if a nation lost its link with the Constitution, the rulers of their country lost link with people. He said it was unfortunate that despite being a talented nation, the people had not been given adequate education in the past. He said in the 18 Amendment, the right to free education for the children between 6-16 age had been recognised. SM Zafar said the nation would have to strive for its rights as without the fight for their rights, people could not expect anything better for themselves.

Regarding autonomy for the provinces, he said a voice should be raised for powers, not provincial autonomy, and now a parameter should also be set so that the people could find solutions to their problems only in democracy.

Zafar said after 1971, the country was passing through a critical phase and uncertainty was prevailing in the nation, adding that the situation had brought all the politicians on one table after the passage of 1973 Constitution. He said, after the passage of the 18th Amendment, the responsibilities of political forces had increased further and now it was mandatory on them to build a consensus over the KBD to end the power crisis.