ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: People’s Party Patriots MNA Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi has supported the construction of Kalabagh dam and proposed merger of Mianwali into the NWFP to remove apprehensions of the people of the province.

Talking to Dawn on Wednesday, the MNA said the people of Mianwali were ready to sacrifice their district for the national cause. He said President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his speech on the occasion of Ghazi Barotha project inauguration had taken a bold step by announcing the construction of Kalabagh and Bhasha dams.

Dr Niazi was of the view that the Kalabagh dam would be beneficial not only for the people of the Punjab, but for the people of the NWFP and Sindh as well.

He appealed to Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan to support the project as the proposed site for its construction was in his constituency. “If Mr Khan considers the national interest supreme and is sincere with the nation, he must support the project,” the MNA said.

He criticized a statement of Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan that the dam would be built “on dead bodies” of Pukhtuns and said such statements were issued “to gain cheap popularity.”

He advised the ANP chief not to politicize the project of national importance.

He said that after the construction of the Kalabagh dam, about 4,500MW would be generated, from which the people of three provinces could benefit.