ISLAMABAD, 7 August — The army top brass yesterday endorsed the government’s policy to hold talks with India and seek a peaceful settlement to the Kashmir row.
The two-day corps commanders’ conference kicked off yesterday with discussion on vital national issues. The commanders pored over the Pak-India summit, the local government issue, performance of state utility WAPDA and its future plans to build dams and water reservoirs in view of water shortage in the country.
President Pervez Musharraf presided at the conference held at the general headquarters. The president briefed the military commanders on his India visit and his efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully. Pakistan and India are slated to hold another summit meeting when Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee visits Pakistan. The two leaders are also expected to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
The commanders discussed the working and functioning of local governments which will be in place on Aug. 14.
Chairman WAPDA Lt. Gen. Zulfiqar Ali Khan briefed the meeting on the performance of the organization since the army took charge in 1998. WAPDA’s revenue generation shot up from 93 billion rupees in 1997-98 to 176 billion rupees in 2000-01 and the cash flow and receipts have gone up in the same period from 124.1 billion rupees to 199.5 billion rupees, he said.
