It has been reported in a section of press that opposition party’s law makers in the upper house raised an outcry against PTI Chairman’s alleged statement to start a campaign to pave way for construction of Kalabagh dam (KBD). This is a welcome step taken by Chairman PTI in national interest as there is no other quicker recipe to solve our water and power problems than Kalabagh dam. The opposition’s demand for a fresh resolution by K.P. assembly to support Kalabagh dam does not hold water as nowhere in the Constitution is it written that a hydro electric dam would require a resolution by a provincial assembly.
It is the prerogative of CCI to approve a water shortage cum power project which it has already approved in 1991, while approving the Water Accord when it approved building of any feasible dam on River Indus. As such no fresh mandate is needed for Kalabagh dam for which Lahore High Court has already asked the Federal Govt. to implement the decision of CCI.
The solitary voice of Imran Khan ought to be heard over the clamor raised by PPP and other parties on baseless grounds like Sindh would become a desert, if the surplus water is stored in Kalabagh dam which is preposterous. People need to understand why we are facing this ongoing energy crises and see if they want an out or for this situation to get even worse if Kalabagh dam is not built now, the people who oppose it already have huge properties abroad and dual nationality, they will leave us in the dark while they enjoy their ill gotten gains by selling the nation!
DR.MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI,
Lahore, November 2.