PESHAWAR: A leader of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) from Charsadda on Wednesday moved the Peshawar High Court requesting it to order the construction of Kalabagh Dam as the project was vital for meeting water and electricity shortages.

The petitioner, Nadir Khan, who had contested 2013 general elections on APML ticket on NA-7, Charsadda, stated that the Kalabagh Dam was initially approved by the World Bank in 1984 and US $8 billion cost was estimated for its construction.

The petitioner claimed that the project was of great importance for the future of the country as according to experts 8 million acre feet of water would be stored through it. He added the project had the capacity to generate 3,600 megawatt of electricity.

The respondents in the petition are federation of Pakistan, minister of water and power, the four provincial governments through their chief secretaries, Wapda chairman and interior ministry through its secretary.

Nadir Khan stated that the Kalabagh Dam project could be completed only in five years as its feasibility had already been prepared. He said that different governments failed to build the dam over political considerations.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play