Chief Minister of Gilgit for royalty on Indus River water

Gilgit, June 17, 2011 (PPI): While the dispute among Sindh, Punjab and other provinces over the Indus River water remains un-resolved, Gilgit-Baltistan has emerged as new claimant of royalty on the water, as the river emanates from this area of Himalayan mountain range.

“Gilgit-Baltistan should be given royalty on the water of Indus River as it emanates from here,” Chief Minister of GB, Syed Mehdi Shah said on Friday remarking, ”Indus River waters are ours but the others are fighting over it.”

Syed Mehdi shah, who was talking to a delegation of journalists from Sindh currently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan, said he has raised the issue with Prime Minister and demanded royalty on proposed Dayameer Dam. “I have also asked four chief ministers of the provinces to pay GB at least one percent from the NFC Award.

GB Chief Minister further stated that if resources provided, GB can produce 50, 000MW electricity while the country’s total requirement is 20, 000MW.

He said Pak-China road link remains suspended due to Atta Abad Lake, however efforts were on to resolve this issue. The GB government has paid half a million rupees to each of the affected families as financial assistance, he added.

He praised President Asif Ali Zardari’s policy of reconciliation describing it a historic one and added that Mian Nawaz Sharif stands isolated due to wrong policies of PML-N. He said credit goes to President Zardari for according GB the status of province.

Mehdi Shah said Shahrah-e-Reshum that links Pak-china was the gift of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who also created political awareness among the people of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Claiming that he enjoys full powers of Chief Minister, Mehdi Shah said his government would promote tourism as main source of revenue.

Mehdi Shah also criticized MQM and said its leadership chants slogans against feudalism but it awarded election ticket to a person who is a Raja. “This shows dual policy of MQM,” he remarked concluding that MQM was the gift of dictator Gen. Zia.