Co-chairman Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) Asif Zardari has called Bilawal as a very intelligent person, saying that his intellect is above expectations. He attended a reception at the residence of former President Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan and former Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf. Those who attended the lunch included Razzak Dawood, Gohar Ejaz, Dr Salman Shah, Salman Najeeb and others.
Talking to Business Recorder, Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf told that former President Zardari was in high spirit and he held serious discussion on economic growth and prosperity once the PPP will be in the government after 2018 general elections.
Chaudhry Zaka quoted him as saying that he has discussed with a president of one of the Central Asian States to fetch water through a tunnel and cultivate Balochistan.
Zardari also lamented over drop in exports and foreign reserves, leading to an alarming economic situation. He urged the participants to advise him on future economic strategy of the country.
He also expressed worries over alarmingly low level of dams. The water experts pointed out that the government had produced electricity from available stock of waters, resulting into a serious drop in water level in dams.
Farmers-cum-businessmen informed him that the farmers in Sindh are very perturbed over the situation, as both wheat and sugarcane crop has been affected badly due to shortage of water since November last. Almost six months have passed and the fields are without water therefore the farmers in Sindh are planning to shift in Punjab, they added.
The water experts also urged him to take seriously the construction of Kala Bagh Dam (KBD), reminding him of the fact that Bhutto had moved machinery to the site when Zia took over his government and his plans could not see the daylight.
Chaudhry Zaka said President Zardari pointed out that a consensus of all provinces is a must, as not only KBD but a number of dams are need of the hour as India has already built over 100 dams in recent past.
According to Chaudhry Zaka, group leader APTMA Gohar Ejaz briefed him about the terrible state of affairs in textile industry of Punjab, as no one in the government was ready to take industry problems seriously.
He said President Zardari assured him of making business community part of policy making in the next PPP government. He also mentioned that the textile industry was running operations smoothly during his tenure from 2008 to 2013.
On Panama, President Zardari restricted him on a short comment that he had no idea about the verdict.
He has also asked the water expert Salman Najeeb to advise him on water policy and formulate a comprehensive strategy for the next PPP government. Salman was quoted as saying that drip and sprinkling irrigation is the only solution to the water needs of agriculture in Pakistan.
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