Pakhtuns won’t accept Kalabagh Dam: Sherpao

E-Paper | October 05, 2026

Pakhtuns won’t accept Kalabagh Dam: Sherpao

Bureau Report Published October 5, 2015

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said the construction of Kalabagh dam won’t be acceptable to Pakhtuns at any cost.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, he criticised the PML-N government for raising the issue for political reasons.

He said the federal government was indulging in controversial issues like Kalabagh dam to divert public attention as it had failed to deliver any goods and people were fed up with its poor performance.

Mr Sherpao said the assemblies of three provinces had already passed resolutions against the controversial project, therefore, sticking to such an issue would be harmful for the federation.

He said that Kalabagh dam had become a dead horse.

He regretted that the government had ignored the Munda dam project which was essential for the socio-economic development. He said negligible funds had been earmarked in PSDP for the Munda dam which showed the government wasn’t interested in the project. — Bureau Report

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2015

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

Pakistan

PPP urges dialogue to resolve govt-opposition differences

Politicians vow to fight for Hazara province

Naqvi, Kundi mull governor’s rule in KP, discuss political and security situation

Shahzad

Oct 05, 2015 11:52am

I am a Pakhtun and I dont accept you in Politics and our country. Kindly dont speak as if you speak for all the Pakthuns. Make the Kalabagh Dam and get over this stupid politics and dragging the dam in it every now and then. Get a life.

Recommend 0

Faruk

Oct 05, 2015 12:39pm

Sharepao saab people like you are enemies of the country and may be on pay roll from enemy country, Kala BAAGH Dam is very important. Politicians like you are problem to our country, I ask the great General Raheel Sharif start construction of the Dam, who ever speaks against the Dam put him or her in person for 10 years,

Recommend 0

Dr.Arshad

Oct 05, 2015 12:53pm

When will we and so called leaders outgrow parochialism,hatred,intolerance,racism,narrow mindedness,intolerance etc.Sadly most of our self styled leaders thrive on such negative traits and misguide people.

Recommend 0

M. Emad

Oct 05, 2015 01:08pm

Urdu as National Language, Kalabagh Dam etc major unresolved issues in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

on looker

Oct 05, 2015 03:26pm

Nonsense knows no limits in this part of the world!

Recommend 0

Shahzad

Oct 05, 2015 05:05pm

Sick of this Kalabagh dam saga, just build it

Recommend 0

Shahzad

Oct 05, 2015 05:13pm

When would these playing politics on Kalabagh Dam. I am a Pakhtun and I dam care what he says. Just build it, the country needs it.

Recommend 0

Faith

Oct 05, 2015 05:15pm

People like him has no say..we will build the dam if it is in favor of PAK people ...

Recommend 0

Pixell

Oct 05, 2015 05:31pm

Everybody should be considered before such projects.

Recommend 0

Pixell

Oct 05, 2015 05:33pm

Well - He said the federal government was indulging in controversial issues like Kalabagh dam to divert public attention as it had failed to deliver any goods and people were fed up with its poor performance.

Recommend 0

Akib

Oct 05, 2015 08:04pm

He's acting like he is the one who is gonna build it and he and the rest of the nation won't benefit from it. leaders like sherpao need to start seeing the bigger picture and realizing the long term benefits of the bigger and more vital kalabagh dam

Recommend 0

MURDAHPIR

Oct 05, 2015 08:25pm

Why does every one kick this dead horse when there are no funds available for construction of Kala bagh dam.

Recommend 0

Lucky Star

Oct 05, 2015 09:13pm

It will be harmful to federation, why this call always come KP. If there is no federation you will not allwed to live as KP, you will usurped by Afghanistan, and Baluchistan will be usurped Iran. So, stop giving threats to federal governmnet.

Recommend 0

Muhammad Khan

Oct 05, 2015 11:12pm

I am Pashtun and I accept Kala Bagh Dam. Anything which is opposed by these so called tiny Pashtun nationalist parties, is in the interest of Pakistan. Aftab Sherpaw is the leader of Tangi Tehsil in Charsadda and that is all. We need to stop flooding in Pakistan, water for irrigation and cheap hydel electricity which can be achieved only and only when Kala Bagh Dam is constructed. I appeal to the Son of Pakistan General Raheel Shareef to go ahead with the construction of Kala bagh Dam and Pashtuns like the other Pakistanis will be with you as usual. our beloved General Raheel, these tiny leaders are puppets of enemies of Pakistan; please don't care for such tiny leaders and construct this dam.

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Oct 05, 2015 11:20pm

Simply deplorable.

Recommend 0

vivek

Oct 06, 2015 01:07am

With the construction of dams, such as Mangla Dam and Tarbela Dam across the Indus, Sindhis have seen the once-mighty Indus turned into a shadow of its former glory downstream of the Kotri Barrage up to Hyderabad. Indus River downstream of Kotri Barrage is only because of rain. Hence in years of low rain, the Indus would stop flowing. Kalabagh dam can convert Khyber pakhtun khuwa into swamp, Sindh into desert area and Baluchistan will be affected. So Kalabagh dam is Punjab dam and it is in interest of Punjab and harms all other provinces. So it is good to call it Punjab dam rather to call kalabagh dam. Greater Thal Canal along with its branches will be 1221 miles long. Providing agriculture facility to 1.9 million acre of land in Punjab. Then what ratio of water will get real owner of Indus River??? Three respective assemblies of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber pakhtun khuwa has passed unanimous resolution against the kalabagh dam.

Recommend 0

Sao

Oct 06, 2015 01:43am

What happend when tree gorges dam and hoover dam have not been built. Still people would live in misery. Sherpaoo wants the pashtuns to be backward so he has a say in politics. Make Sherpaoo history and Kalah Bach dam present.

Recommend 0

tariq sheikh

Oct 06, 2015 03:37am

@Lucky Star why he may not be tried like Altaf Hussain of MQM for giving threats to federation.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Putting better health in more hands: Reckitt Pakistan unveils Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan in partnership with Aga Khan Foundation

Powered by Dettol and Harpic, the flagship platform begins in schools to provide safe drinking water, rehabilitated toilets, handwashing facilities and hygiene education.

28 years of McDonald’s Pakistan: celebrating the local partners behind the Golden Arches

The milestone highlighted the structural evolution of the company's local procurement model.

Etihad Town Sialkot delivers Possession ahead of time

The project was delivered within just 1.5 years against a 3-year payment plan, while commercial possession had already been handed over to customers in January 2026.