CCI unanimously approves construction of Bhasha Dam

[niazikhan2]

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI), through a unanimous resolution on Sunday, gave approval to the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

The CCI meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s House with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair, was attended by the chief ministers of all the four provinces besides members of the Council and Chairman Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment and the PM’s Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination Mian Raza Rabbani.

“The resolution to approve the Diamer-Bhasha Dam reflects a national consensus and would send a positive signal for future progress and prosperity of the country,” said the prime minister following the adoption of the resolution.

The CCI was told that the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, on completion in 2019, would have water storage capacity of 6.4 MAF and would produce 4,500 MW electricity. It was also mentioned that the dam would pay back its cost within eight years of its completion.

Concluding the meeting, the prime minister gave special directions to the Ministry of Water and Power to develop a scheme for development of infrastructure to support the early completion of the Thar Coal Project.

He also directed the Ministry of Railways to give a detailed briefing on making the railways a viable entity and asked the Statistics Division for a briefing on the population census in the next meeting of the CCI.

The CCI, which met for the first time after the passage of the 18th Amendment, took up five agenda items in which it passed the rules and procedures for the newly-constituted body. As per the Constitution, the CCI is required to meet within the prescribed timeframe of 90 days after the enactment of the 18th Amendment.

The CCI was given a detailed briefing by Mian Raza Rabbani on the state of implementation of the 18th Amendment and the work so far undertaken by the Implementation Commission. The meeting also took note of Nepra’s Annual Report 2008-09 and the Statement of Industries Report 2009.

The council constituted a sub-committee to submit its report within one month on the working and functioning of Nepra within the Constitution. The sub-committee comprises Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan, Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd and Mian Raza Rabbani. The four chief ministers shall also name their nominees for the committee.

Regarding the Intellectual Property Organisation’s summary seeking provincial support for implementation of intellectual property rights, the council directed that the summary be resubmitted after consultation with the provinces incorporating appropriate proposed changes in the law.

Earlier in his opening statement, Prime Minister Gilani said that the forum of the CCI needs to play a more effective and visible role in resolving issues between the federal and provincial governments through mutual consultation and discussions.

The prime minister hoped that the supervision over related institutions by the CCI would also be a significant step towards participative management by both the Federation and the provinces.

Gilani said it was a matter of satisfaction for the political leadership of the country that the 18th Amendment was unanimously passed with the support of all the political parties in parliament.

He further said the 18th Amendment was indicative of the wishes of the people of Pakistan and provides greater autonomy to the provinces in managing their resources and ensuring delivery of service according to their priorities. “Now the provinces through the CCI will also be participating in major policy formulation on issues of national and provincial importance,” he added.

The prime minister said that previously, the Council could take cognizance of complaints by the provinces, the federal capital and Fata in respect of water from any natural source of supply. “The Council can now take care of similar complaints pertaining to the reservoirs also,” he added.

He further said that the provinces, in case of any dispute in respect of matters referred in Article 157 of the Constitution, could also approach the Council for resolution of their disputes. He observed that the Implementation Commission was taking steps to ensure that matters that need to be brought before this forum were not taken to any other forum.