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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan met with Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain today. The Chairman briefed him about the water situation in the country and future development of water and hydropower sectors.
The prime minister underlined the need for construction of dams for not only conservation of water resources in the country. But also for adding low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid.
Terming the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dam critical for the country. The prime minister reiterated his resolve to spearhead the campaign for construction of the two vital water reservoirs as soon as possible.
He emphasised on the urgency of building the dams. And said that he will himself supervise the project in view of the project urgency.
In a tweet, the prime minister said there was a total outflow of 45 million acre-feet (MAF) in Pakistan. Out of which 80 per cent was in the three months. And only 20 per cent in the rest of the nine months.
Pakistan has only 185 dams – & only 2 large ones. In contrast India has 5000 dams and China has 84000 dams including 4000 large ones. We need to avert the looming water crisis confronting Pakistan. https://t.co/gvdyABHErj
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 10, 2018
The prime minister added that there were only 185 dams in Pakistan of which only two were large ones. “In contrast, India has 5,000 dams and China has 84,000 dams including 4,000 large ones.”
Imran Khan stressed that there was a need to avert the looming water crisis confronting the nation. When he has termed to be the biggest issue and sought assistance from overseas Pakistanis to help overcome it.
In an address to the nation on September 7, the prime minister urged overseas Pakistanis to donate generously for construction of dams in Pakistan to avert the looming water crisis.
He also encouraged the Pakistanis working abroad to donate at least 1000 dollars to the dam fund so that the water reservoirs could be constructed within time and within the estimated cost.
He said that it was crucial for Pakistan to build dams as failure to do so could be detrimental to its future generations. While thanking Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar for taking the initiative, he also announced the merger of CJP and PM’s dam fund.
