(9 July, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of and former provincial of Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said that chief justice measures for banning taxes on mobile recharge and reduction in petroleum prices and now construction of new dams to curtail the water scarcity problems are highly appreciative. CJP himself donated 1 million for this cause and requested Pakistanis to donate for this project of national interest.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said that water scarcity is further increasing in the Country, Turbela and Mangla dams are at dead level and water availed through rains are not only wasted due to lack of dams but also become a reason of flood in the plain areas causing heavy losses to lives and assets. Construction of new dams in this situation is highly beneficial which will counter the water scarcity and improve the agriculture sector.
The former minister said that WAPDA sources disclosed that project colony and model village at Bhaha dam is under construction however actual project is yet to start. Bhasha dam will be 272 meter heighted, having the storage facility of 8 million acre feet and will produce 4500 MW electricity. Bhasha dam will not irrigate any land directly but ultimately it will benefit the agricultural lands of river Indus. Mohamand dam will be 700 feet heighted, will store 1.3 million acre feet, irrigate 17 thousand acres agricultural land and will produce 800 MW of electricity.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that approximately 14 billion gallons of water get wasted annually in Pakistan, which can be saved if the storage facility is increased in shape of new dams. It will help Pakistan overcome the water scarcity problem and will help farmers to irrigate their lands on cheaper rates thus benefiting the Country and the people associated with agriculture. No dam has been constructed after Mangla dam in 1976, while each new dam in a decade is important to be constructed taking the increased water demand in account.
He said that because of the ignorance caused regarding dams, Pakistan is facing water shortage today. There should be no political point scoring on the construction of Bhasha and Mohmand dams, construction work to be started in ongoing fiscal year. Pakistanis should actively support this project of National interest so that they can be accomplished in time. WAPDA should complete their work on other projects of dams so that construction of new dams becomes possible in the Country. Reservations of provinces on Kalabagh dam should be addressed and resolved to get it constructed for the growth of agriculture sector.
