LAHORE: The local business community has asked the government to start construction of Kalabagh Dam, ignoring pressure of opponents as the people talking against this mega project are not well wishers of Pakistan.
In a joint statement, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad, Senior Vice President Almas Haider and Vice President Nasir Saeed said that being an agrarian economy, Pakistan cannot afford to waste huge amount of water resources, which are depleting fast.
The shortage of water has not only caused undue damage to the agriculture sector, but the manufacturing sector, as well, they said. Arshad said that the nation cannot waste any more time; therefore, the government should pave the way for early construction of the Kalabagh Dam, which is the only solution to water and electricity shortages.
“Our economy is based on agriculture sector, which cannot survive without sufficient water resources,” he said, adding, “We were already suffering and further delay in the construction of Kalabagh Dam would hit us hard.”
The LCCI president said that it is a good omen that some political elements have started realising the importance of this mega project that would certainly pave the way for its early construction.
“The Kalabagh Dam issue has been so much politicised that a consensus seems difficult; therefore, the government would have to take a decision in this regard.”
The LCCI president said that melting of glaciers are an eye-opener, as sword of floods is hanging on the heads.
“An opinion gained widespread support across the country that the losses of recent floods in Pakistan, which are estimated to be that of billions of dollars could have been reduced if big dams and water reservoirs were in place,” Arshad added.
The LCCI president said that the Kalabagh Dam is the most suitable project for the national economy, as it would not only produce cheap and sufficient electricity, but would also avert the devastation caused by the floods.
LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Haider said that the Kalabagh Dam is a must to control poverty and hunger and those who were opposing the dam are the enemies of this country.
The Kalabagh Dam is not only beneficial to Punjab, but it would be more helpful in erasing poverty from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa also, as it would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100 to 150 feets above the River Indus level in the province.
He said this land could only be brought under cultivation if the river level is raised that is only possible if the Kalabagh Dam is built.
Haider said that the civil society would also have to play its due role in creating a consensus, as new water reservoirs would benefit every Pakistani.
Any further delay in gathering a consensus from all stakeholders on the construction of unduly politicised Kalabagh Dam will cost this country and its coming generations heavily, he said.
The LCCI senior vice president said that all the stakeholders should show some maturity on the issue. It is high time that all undue stands should be brushed aside to save the country from the era of darkness, he said.
Unlike Pakistan, India is constructing dams at every possible site. It has left Pakistan decades behind and coming time does not promise any good thing either, Haider said.
LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed said that everyone knows that the existing dams are constantly silting up leaving ever-decreasing capacity to store water.
The construction of the Kalabagh Dam along with other new dams is desperately needed to store adequate water.
According to a conservative estimate, around 30 million acres feet of water is being wasted into the sea because the country has no big water reservoirs to store it.
Saeed said that another significant aspect connected with the construction of the Kalabagh Dam is the surety of sufficient amount of electricity at comparatively much cheaper price.
The country’s dependence on power generated through thermal resources is costing way too much, causing to face insurmountable challenges to remain competitive both in the national and international markets.
Another significant aspect connected with the construction of Kalabagh Dam is the surety of sufficient amount of greener and cheaper electricity. Electricity generation through thermal sources is estimated to cost almost Rs16 per unit, whereas the same can be produced at Rs2.5 to Rs3 per unit through hydel, he said.
