Indus River water issue 'very sensitive matter', says Miftah

Pakistan Awami Party leader stresses on deciding it by consensus rather than executive order

HYDERABAD:

Former Finance Minister and leader of Pakistan Awami Party (PAP) Miftah Ismail has warned against dealing with the very sensitive matter of water distribution among provinces through some executive order instead of developing consensus among the stakeholders.

At a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club late on Sunday night Ismail said the federal government's attempt to amend Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act in spite of opposition by Sindh will be an injustice to the province.

He was referring to the Centre's plan to allow construction of six new canals in Punjab to draw water from Indus River. The Sindh government, Sindhi nationalist parties and some other stakeholders have already opposed the project as the former has passed a resolution through the provincial assembly while the latter are holding protests.

"The most precious of all resources at our disposal is water. The 1991 Water Accord and the Water Policy during Shahid Khaqan Abbassi term as PM were formed with consent of all provinces," he recalled. "The government then didn't want any province to be meted out an injustice."

Nevertheless, he feared that the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz may attempt to promulgate an ordinance with regard to water in the dark of the night like the way they enacted the 26th constitutional amendment. Ismail, who was a finance minister in the former government of PML-N, criticised the N-league for making the superior judiciary subordinate to the parliament through the recent amendment.

Commenting on the lending programs of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) he blamed the government for evading initiatives for genuine economic reforms which can help it do away with seeking punishing bailouts from the IMF. "Increasing [direct] taxes every year won't provide a solution," he contended.

Ismail accused the government for enhancing taxes without paying consideration to impact on the common people who are already being squeezed by prevalent inflation and taxes. "Leaving graveyards, all other products and services have been taxed so far."

Ismail criticised the government for allowing one service sector after another to decline its performance pointing out that now the internet companies have started to tread on the heels of electricity and gas distribution companies. He said the N-league has politically deviated from the path which it had begun to march in 2007-08.

"The PML-N always talked about giving respect to votes. But does the same stance exist today?" he questioned. Ismail informed that his party is organizing itself and that they will seek the public vote in the next election.