ISLAMABAD- The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) today expressed fears of Thar-like drought situation in the Rawalpindi within next few years.

Availability of water which is essential to all forms of life will be reduced dramatically within years in the city and cantonment areas of Rawalpindi, which would be worse than the ongoing energy crisis, it said.

Realizing the threat, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) asked the Punjab Government to construct a dam on Soan River at Daducha which will provide 25 million gallon water to the city daily for next 50 years, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

JICA said that Rawal Dam is to complete its expected life soon while the requirement of Rawalpindi is expected to touch 80 million gallon per day in the next twenty years therefore a dam on best available location of Daducha should be constructed immediately.

Small Dam Organization, Rawalpindi Development Authority, City District Government Rawalpindi and other departments supported the idea and the Punjab government allocated funds for feasibility report, added it in the Annual Development Plan and initiated efforts to acquire 1800 acres of land for the dam.

Meanwhile, Dr. Murtaza Mughal said, some developers found that location lucrative for their business and started constructing housing societies on the site while Punjab Government preferred to ignore massive construction activity which is not only unfortunate as will leave millions insecure.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Col. M Tariq Kamal (Retired), former director engineering DHA Islamabad said that top government functionaries have entered into unwritten agreement with land mafia which is keeping them mum.  He warned that political cost of inaction on the important issue would be beyond imagination.

He asked that Prime Minister and the CM Punjab to take corrective steps disregarding political considerations to save millions of lives as water table in the twin cities has already receded to an extent that many have to buy water to support life.

Interests of millions of masses must not be compromised to please some developers, demanded Tariq Kamal.