Islamabad—The Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting here today discussing construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam and other issues. Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah in whose region the dam will be constructed was not invited in the meeting, sources said. The meeting will discuss options after the World Bank expressed inability to provide funds for the construction of the dam.

The Council meeting will be headed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and other members include the chief ministers of four provinces, Minister for Communications Arbab Alamgir Khan, Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Hamayun Aziz Kurd and Minister for Privatization Syed Naveed Qamar. The sources told Pakistan Observer that as the chief minister Gilgit Baltistan was not a member of the council therefore he was not invited to the meeting. Amjad Hussain, a member Gilgit Baltistan Bar Council, said Syed Mehdi Shah is also a chief minister therefore the federal government should have invited him in the CCI meeting. He urged the federal government to amend Article 1 of the constitution to declare Gilgit Baltistan as 5th province of Pakistan.

It has been learnt that federal government has been facing difficulties to start work on construction of dam after the World Bank’s refusal to provide loans for the construction of dam on objections raised by India, therefore the government has been chalking out strategies in this connection. New Delhi has said that Gilgit Baltistan was a disputed area. The Asian Development Bank said that it would provide funds but has put up conditions

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