ISLAMABAD: As the two houses of parliament witnessed fiery speeches against the idea of constructing Kalabagh dam, a key federal minister on Tuesday said that no unilateral decision would be taken to build the dam.

Making a policy statement in the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were opposed to the Kalabagh dam and the government respected their view.

Mr Qureshi said that an unnecessary controversy had been stirred. “I want to clear this ambiguity. We will take along the federating units,” he added.

Lawmakers express concern over increase in gas prices

He recognised the water policy document signed by the prime minister and the four chief ministers in April this year, which only mentions Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams. He also said the government owned the 1991 water accord.

The controversy started when a PTI lawmaker moved a resolution, asking the government to take steps to construct new dams in the country and a PPP legislator opposed the resolution as vague.

The resolution moved by Makhdoom Sami Gilani was adopted by the house, but PPP’s Yusuf Talpur said the resolution was ambiguous. “It must be specified which dam you are talking about.”

Mr Talpur said the PPP supported the Bhasha dam and also sought its inclusion in the CPEC. “On the one hand, you are collecting donations but, on the other, you talk about the Kalabagh dam.”

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif said a water policy document had been signed by the former prime minister and all chief ministers, including Pervez Khattak. Terming the document historic, he said it had been agreed that Bhasha and Mohmand dams would be built and there was no mention of any other dam in it.

He welcomed collection of funds for Bhasha and Mohmand dams, noting that it would increase public participation, but said the issue of Kalabagh dam must not be touched and the water problem should not be allowed to fall prey to politics.

The issue also echoed in the Senate where members from different opposition parties rejected the idea of building the Kalabagh dam. The opposition lawmakers said the government’s decision to present the revised budget was unfortunate after increasing gas prices only a day before.

Some of the senators also criticised the chief justice of Pakistan for stirring the controversy over the Kalabagh dam.

JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri criticised the CJP for also raiding hospitals and stressed that all institutions should work within their limits defined by the Constitution.

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman expressed concern over the government’s decision to increase natural gas prices by up to 143 per cent. She said: “The issue regarding how unsustainable the gas prices were has been brought up in committees in the past, but the PTI refused to listen. The PTI was consistent in lashing out at the same move they pulled only a day before the mini-budget. Gas is a basic requirement and changing its price will have effects far and beyond. This is not a decision that the government can spring on its people overnight. The PPP rejects this move.”

Senator retired Gen Abdul Qayyum of the PML-N said the government appeared to be confused as the nation awaited a clear-cut economic policy. He said the government was planning to cut the much-needed development expenditure instead of curtailing administrative expenses. He sought a clear statement from the prime minister in the house on the CPEC to remove the confusion created by members of his team.

He asked the foreign minister to clarify the remarks made by the US ambassador to Afghanistan that Pakistan was considering opening land routes for Indian trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics. “It would be acceptable only as a package deal including a time-bound resolution of the Kashmir dispute backed by international guarantees,” he said.

Responding to the opposition, Leader of the House in the Senate Shibli Faraz said the government inherited a weak economy and circular debt. He said the PML-N government had artificially controlled the gas prices. He said the gas prices had been increased by up to 143pc only for in­dus­tries and lifeline consumers would only face a 10pc hike and others 20pc.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announcement to give citizenship rights to the Afghans and Bengalis also came under discussion in the Senate. Members were of the view that the prime minister should have taken parliament into confidence before making announcement on such a sensitive issue.

The opposition staged a walkout in protest against alleged victimisation of the family of National Party’s Hafeez Baloch who had contested the election from PP-286 against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018