LAHORE: The PML-Q has launched a ‘support Kalabagh dam’ drive to address water and electricity issues of the country.

“Rename it Pakistan dam but we need it. I ask all the political parties to shun their differences for saving future generations of the country and support Kalabagh dam (KBD). Electricity and water problems of the country will be resolved once and for all,” PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi told a news conference here on Tuesday.

He said after construction of the KBD, Sindh would get maximum of 4m acre feet, Punjab 2.2m, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2m and Balochistan 1.5m acre feet additional water.

“During our regime (2002-7), the farmers used to get electricity at half price. After construction of the KBD, it will be available to the farmers for free while the other consumers will get electricity at Rs2.50 to Rs3 per unit,” Mr Elahi said and added that answer to ‘water aggression’ of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was construction of the KBD.

“Some say that Nowshera will drown with the construction of KBD which is not correct. Diamer-Bhasha dam will take 12 years and Dasu dam another three years to be built but the KBD can be constructed in just six years at a cost of 9bn US dollars whereas in Pakistan floods have caused losses of more than 40bn US dollars during last five years,” he said.

“Modi has threatened to stop our water by constructing dams on our three rivers and silence of Nawaz Sharif over this and Indian spy Kulbhushan is a proof of his role as Modi’s facilitator,” he alleged.

Mr Elahi said people in the country were protesting against electricity loadshedding and water scarcity but the rulers were busy making commission.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2017