THE government claims that it placed special emphasis on generating electricity to overcome loadshedding, though much of this effort has been on generating electricity from sources other than hydel power. Unfortunately, except for building the Mangla and Tarbela dams decades ago, no government has placed importance on hydel power generation, more specifically building the Kalabagh dam (KBD), though it is close to consumption centres.

It would also help manage floods due to heavy monsoon rains. According to experts, the current design of the proposed KBD would not have any adverse effects on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near Nowshera.

Most experts agree that Balochistan and Sindh had benefitted the most from the Mangla and Tarbela dams. Similarly, the KDB would have positive impact on South Punjab, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.

The time, energy, and resources the government has invested in building fancy Orange train and metro buses, I wish it had spent a fraction of this on critical projects like KBD also.

One can only hope and pray that all stakeholders would come to an early consensus on the KBD, which is vital for our survival.

Raja Shafaatullah

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018