Lahore: As the fund dedicated for the construction of Diamer Basha and Mohmand dams has received a lukewarm response from across the country, the Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has decided to raise funds for the construction of theDiamer Basha and Mohmand Dams.
PIAF chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said the earning of Jashn e Azadi concert which was held at National Hockey Stadium Lahore will be donated to the supreme court of Pakistan Diamer Basha & Mohmand Dam fund.
He said that the project will contribute towards the alleviation of acute water shortages in the Indus Basin Irrigation System caused by progressive siltation of existing reserves.
Quoting the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), he said that the total collection from within Pakistan was recorded at Rs854.8 million so far for dams’ construction. The detail shows that the fund received Rs22 million on August 13, Rs87.4 million on August 9, Rs63.4 million on August 8, and Rs44.9 million on August 6.
He hailed the decision of the SC for initiating the move, also asked the government to start work on Kalabagh Dam without any further delay. He observed that KBD is the most thoroughly studied project by world’s top experts, reviewed by noted international panels of professionals and thoroughly appraised by the World Bank.
The project is easy to approach and no long distance transmission lines are required for it. It is ready for construction since mid-eighties and international financing from World Bank or Asian Bank can still be easily arranged.