KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Saturday said that work would not be initiated on any mega water projects without consultation with provinces.

He was talking to the media after attending the Provincial Consultative Workshop on Pakistan Vision 2025 chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here at the Sindh Secretariat.

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal said that the Federal Government is working on Dasu, Diamer, Bhasha and such other projects on which a consensus has been reached with the provinces.

The Minister said that the Federal and Sindh Governments have expressed an agreement on the implementation of Pakistan Vision 2025.

Provincial ministers, MPAs, economic and irrigation experts and other technocrats attended the workshop.

Welcoming consultation between Federal and Sindh Governments, he said that consultation with provinces on quarterly basis would be continued.

He said that provinces have a significant role in the development of the country, adding that despite difference of opinion on various issues, all the political parties are on the same page for country's development.

The PML-N leader said that economic development relies on energy, therefore, the cost of power generation would have to be slashed, as presently oil is being used for the generation of 70 per cent of electricity.

Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that privatisation policy has been continuing since the period of the Pakistan Peoples Party government. He said instead of privatisation of national institutions, their 26 per cent shares would be sold to the private sector in order to bring investment to help improve the performance of institutions.

The Federal Minister said that the present government received Rs 36 billion annual deficit of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from the previous government, adding that an improvement has been recorded in the national airliner after the private sector's investment.

Ahsan Iqbal said that it was a sign of political maturity that politically different governments are working together on national development agenda. "We may have different politics but our development agenda is one to see a prosperous and developed Pakistan", he added.

(APP)