ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: The government has achieved consensus on building five major dams by 2016 at a cost of $25 billion, claimed a senior official. “Certainly this is a breakthrough as consensus has been achieved among the four provinces on major technical issues to soon start these mega dam projects,” Lt-Gen (retd) Mohammad Zubair, member, project implementation, Planning Commission, told a news conference on Saturday after a meeting of the Central Development Working Party.

He said a report of a sub-committee on dams headed by secretary for water and power Ashfaq Mahmood was presented in the CWDP meeting, forging consensus over construction of Kalabagh, Diamir-Bhasha, Akohri, Munda and Kuramtangi dams.

He, however, admitted there were some “minor irritants” that needed to be removed, but said “this is not an issue which can pose any problem to start these projects”. In principle, he said, it was agreed by members of the committee on dams to go ahead with the dam projects in order to end growing water shortages in the country.

Answering a question, member, infrastructure and energy, Planning Commission, Dr Asad Ali Shah, said the report would now be presented in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for further discussion.

Asked whether political consensus had also been achieved over construction of controversial dams, he said Ecnec would take up such issues. “Political dimensions of bigger dams will be covered by Ecnec in which the leadership of the provinces will also be present,” he said.

However, he did not comment when asked whether opposition parties, opposing especially the Kalabagh dam, would be consulted to achieve a broader consensus. Gen Zubair said issues relating to acquisition of land were being sorted out for which Wapda had been assigned the task to work out a plan of action.