SUKKUR, Nov 20: Tehrik-i-Istiqlal president Rehmat Khan Wardag has underlined the need for building confidence among the provinces on national issues.

Talking to journalists at an Iftar party hosted by Sukkur TI chairman M. Y. R. Bhatti here on Tuesday, he said implementation of the 1991 water accord would be a step in the right direction.

Mr Wardag supported President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s decision to initiate work on one of the proposed dams after June 2004.

He also lauded the formation of the parliamentary committee on the water issue, headed by Senator Nisar A. Memon, and said those who were opposing water projects should wait till the findings and recommendations of the committee.

He suggested that small dams should be constructed in the Seraiki belt, Khairpur and Sehwan, which would help irrigate more than 300,000 acres of land in the areas.

The TI chief asked the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal not to launch the protest movement it planned against the government, claiming it would be against the national interest.

He said the MMA should show more flexibility so that the present democratic setup could be saved.

He said the country was facing problems of price-hike, unemployment, honour killings, kidnappings and ethnic and sectarian clashes which needed to be resolved collectively by the government and the opposition.