The objections to Kalabagh Dam seem to be an unending and a repeated story. I believe that anyone who opposes this project is anti-Pakistan, but what is strange is that this seems to be a thorn in every ones side, why? I tried to find out the reason for the continued delay of this life saving project for three decades and I have realized that there are very strong anti-state elements working in Pakistan.
A Parliamentarian Javed Ali Shah wanted to speak on a point of order in the Senate, three years back. An English newspaper said that when the Parliamentarian just mentioned the word ‘Kalabagh Dam ’, there was uproar in the Senate as many Senators from Sindh, and KPK created a strong furor saying that Kalabagh Dam was a dead issue and that it would not be discussed. It may be recollected that in the past also whenever Kalabagh Dam issue was raised our Parliamentarians from the three provinces i.e. Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan stood against the project which was and is of great importance and significance. It was condemned as if it was a taboo subject! Do these three provinces consider its construction a challenge to their egos? If so why?
The present government keeps throwing the blame on the previous government for not building the dam, but what I would like to ask PPP is, did they start the construction on Kalabagh Dam , and if not why? They are ignoring the future of Pakistan which is faced with the curse of load shedding. It is high time that we shed our prejudices for the good of our beloved country. There are certain vital issues which carry more weight for the survival of a country than the sentiments or whims of some people.
A.Q ANJUM,
Rawalpindi, December 4.