Government of Balochistan

WINDER: President Asif Ali Zardari here on Friday performed the ground-breaking ceremony of Winder Dam in Balochistan. The storage capacity of Winder Dam, to be completed in three years’ time, will be 36,484 acre feet of water and it will irrigate 20,000 acres of land and generate 300 kw electricity. Addressing a large gathering on the occasion, the President said that he is personally pursuing the Winder Dam project and for this he had held as many as 25 meetings.

He said that this Dam would irrigate the lands first and the state land would be rehabilitated and distributed among the women of the area on behalf of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

President Asif Zardari announced that he would constantly monitor the Winder Dam project and payment would be made in accordance with the work done.

He also recalled that some two years ago just before her martyrdom Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had visited Balochistan and had expressed her vision on the occasion.

He said that he is carrying forward this very vision and his today’s visit and this project is in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

President Zardari said that there are some who ask as to why the President frequently visits China and said these visits were aimed at seeking the time- tested friend’s assistance to help spur development process in the country for the betterment of the people of Pakistan.

He said that the Balochistan Assembly had passed a resolution that paved the way for his election as President of Pakistan and for this he thanked the people of Balochistan.

President Asif Ali Zardari recalled that before becoming the President he had apologised to the people of Balochistan for the injustices meted out to them in the past and he had done it as part of his duty.

He also announced that a large number of dams would be constructed, a large number of gas and oil wells would be dug and that their benefits would be shifted to the people in order to improve their lot and to empower them.

The President said that the present government has done a lot during the past 15 months and saved the country and its people from the impact of recession which was an international phenomenon.

He also pointed towards the country’s successful war against terror in which the personnel of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies rendered sacrifices.

President Zardari said that the Aghaz-i- Haqooq- i-Balochistan package has been given as the right of the people of this province. The present government also gave the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, he pointed out.

The President said that the detractors of the government were merely levelling allegations as they are narrow-minded and lack vision and merely want to obstruct us from serving the poor people in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He stated that his intentions are clear and that he would ensure that the people of Balochistan get their due rights.

The President said that he would protect the country and help spur the process of its progress and prosperity and betterment of the people.

He stated that there is a lot of difference between our thinking and that of our detractors on this very count. President Zardari vowed that the present government and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would continue to serve the country and its people as well as the democracy. He concluded his address on the occasion with the slogan of “Pakistan Khapay”.

On the occasion, the President distributed ownership rights of land among a number of people.

Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Parvaiz Ashraf, said that the Winder Dam will help develop the agriculture in the area, enhance forestry and cattle-farming.

He further pointed out that the Winder Dam project would also generate 300 kw electricity.

The Minister said that the Winder Project is very much beneficial for the agriculture in Balochistan. He also spoke of the President’s deep interest in the Winder Dam project. Raja Parvaiz assured that he would ensure the completion of this project in accordance with the scheduled time and would request President Zardari for its inauguration.

He said that it is a matter of joy that the Mangla Dam Raising Project has been completed and this will help produce 2.9 million acre feet of additional water for irrigation.

The Minister announced that the Gomal Zam Dam’s completion is expected in October this year. He stated that the construction of Neelam-Jhelum Hydro Project is going on in two phases.

Raja Parvaiz Ashraf said that all the preparations have been completed for the biggest project in Pakistan -Diamer Bhasha Dam and that the construction work would commence within this year.

With the project’s completion there would be six million acre feet of water available and there will be generation of 4,500 MW of electricity.

He stated that in the next three years 12 dams would be constructed in the country and of these five will be in the province of Balochistan. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Communications, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, said that democracy has been restored in Pakistan because of the sacrifice rendered by Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

He said that the present government in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari is doing a lot to ensure a bright future for the country. Waraich also spoke of the National Finance Commission Award and Aghaz-i-Huqooq- i-Balochistan package.

He also shed light on the various highways and roads projects in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani, hoped that the number of projects launched for the betterment of agriculture would lead to attainment of self-sufficiency.

He said that on the completion of Winder Dam, President Zardari would be invited to perform the inauguration of this project.

Governor of Balochistan, Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, was also present on the occasion.

Courtesy by The APP
Posted on 01-January-2010

Terms & Conditions