Good editorial. Drama of dam fund should end.

A very good suggestion, and why keep the funds ideal in a bank when these can be better utilized, such as building some state of the art hospitals in the suburbs of the four provinces.

Salam Sir: Agreed. It is not a question of ego. Rather reasonableness should prevail. We must rationalize what is good / what can be acheived, and what is our priority!

Let me add - can we review the feasibility reports once again, and see if they still hold water. I have seen world bank report that the location of the first Basha Dam [first dam for which our learned JC did all that] may not be feasible. Let us avoid controversy, and work with a clear goal!

The donation should be returned back to the donors if the money was not spent on the intended goal.

Former CJP attended fund raising in London fetch only meagre £300k!!

This is what happens when reliance is on individuals rather than on ideas and systems.

Dam if you do dam if you don’t.

I do not substantiate the editorial views. We have scarcity of water. In Karachi, during time of Ayub Khan, we did never fetch drinking water. It was abundantly available and reaching home through water pipes. Now, we have to purchase the drinking water, which is too not fit for human consumption. Further, electricity cost is too exorbitant and not affordable for the large segment of the population resulting in power theft. Successive governments have been in deep slumber to provide basic needs of the people. In view of this, the former Chief Justice initiative was need of the hour. Every journey start with first step. New Chief Justice should continue the project and give new spark momentum to keep the donation drive accelerated and also keep the government on track on this important national cause.

9bn Rs can buy 900 BMW 5 series esp if it’s imported duty free for ‘government’ Use.

This is criticism for criticism sake. It was an honest endevour and nobody was expecting to collect huge amount but it focused the nation to the importance of building dams and conserving water. It did not harm any body but showed the way to authorities. As a nation we have the habit of not doing anything ourselves but we seem to be the leaders in criticizing others.

This is a silly point of view. The dam fund was never meant to fully fund the Bhasha Project but to create awareness, build a national consensus about the need and develop appreciation of water resources. It prepares the nation to accept and implement water conservation efforts that are imminent. Also, think about the offer of fines (so far $2 Billion) by Baharia that would be a donation to this fund. A couple of such fines and “donations” and we are talking about a real game changer. Water companies paying for the use of our water is another example. For most of us, even 1 percent of the project, though a drop in the bucket, is still the first drop of rain. And let’s remember, it is not up to the CJP to close this fund. People like us who have pledged monthly contributions for five years expect the commitment to be honored.

This discussion ought to be stopped after the publication of Mr. Khurram Hussain's article on dam funding. You are pulling a dead horse. The subsequent events as predicted by Mr. Hussain proved his points beyond doubt.

The whole ultranationalistic cacophony only helped a section of readers to see the dam funding problem with a realistic view point. That is the benefit so far dam funding has offered.

It was a mega fraud. Knowing very well that the amount would never reach the cost. They also know that emotional masses which happened to be poorest would cut their meal to contribute in this nonsense. Did you great when you say that sick cut from their medicines to contribute. Have mercy on these poor soul and give back their money.

Excellent suggestion to SC under new chief justice. Here are few ideas where this money could be utilized

Research and planning to minimize use of water in agriculture projects to minimize loss of water in urban areas Lining of canals Supporting dislocated families due to sea water intrusion from coastal area of Sindh Projects to increase the area occupied by mangroves, which Pakistan is loosing by day.

One should remember that about 10 billion USD required to build the dam is needed over a time period of 10 years: with only one billion USD, the project can be started with money coming each year.

Just plain bombast and showmanship was displayed - pure propaganda - in place of the badly required planning and funds management.

Correct. Pakistan is a water based economy. The money collected should now be spent on a water policy that actually benefits the country. Water needs to be price and water loss needs to be preserved in the irrigation system.

Trust me when I say this. Crowd funding was a long shot because the people do not trust the system with their money. Dam needs to be built urgently and the money can be diverted to another dam if it helps...but true funding will pour in when the corrupt are deprived from the resources they deprived their people from.

Well written, and I hope the concerned appreciate the advice to prevent it from becoming a mega money scandal in the near future!

We all knew this had to happen eventually. Only time frame was not clear to us.

Did anyone seriously think anything meaningful would come out of this grand tamasha, except this denouement?

What else does this editorial have to suggest other than poking criticism at the dam fund?

A noble intention was turned into a farce by implying that legal proceedings would be dropped against litigants (wealthy litigants could buy justice) if they contributed huge amounts to dam fund

We want dams no matter how they are made.

Someone also needs to explain to IK that country can't be run on charity like SKMH.

Not sure why we the Pakiatanis are so impatient. Dam fund is only few months old. Who said money will be collected within a specified time. Someone took the initiative, support the cause and continue pushing. It's just a foundation to realize a fact that we need to be better in thinking ahead and do something about impending issues, like power and water to begin with.

I don’t care whether the dams are built or not although I am in favour of building the dams, if not for electricity production but for preservation of water for later and better use for irrigation and other reasonable beneficial purposes. What I am writing here is the use of your very irresponsible and arrogant use of word ‘dignified’ which you used in your sentence ‘The new chief justice should now bring it all to a dignified end.’ Muhtaram! You are throwing dirt on the actions of the ‘ (former) Chief Justice’ of Pakistan and the ‘Prime Minister’ of Pakistan. You used this word to show the ‘absurdities’ of their utterances, their actions and their being considerate for their country. You want to impose your feelings upon others which I am sure you would not like to be done to you. Please give them the respect they deserve so that the same kind of respect given to you otherwise you will lose your own dignity and respect. These are the words for those who have the wisdom to listen.

Yeh, share it between the Zardaris and Sharifs.

Nothing new in pak. Bad planning, overly optimistic and same old results

Yawn!

Sorry I tend to disagree with the author..It is a national cause...As the saying goes do ask what the country has given to you ask what have to given to the country...The dignified end should be maximum contribution to the greater cause...May be another option will be to get the looted money from Sharif's and Zardaris...And build a dam...May be we could build atleast couple of dams from the recover of this looted money...

Very wise article. Rather than dragging this for 200 years, better solution needs to be found. The current money can go to education fund

Everyone is hoping new Chief Justice will clean all the mess created by the Justice Saqib Nisar, be it Dam Fund, overstepping boundaries of Judicial system, or raiding hospitals......

@Ahmad M. Quazi, very befitting ....Thanks...And highly appreciate...Totally agree with you...

@Kesar, sure by this we can build number of dams nit only one...

@Ahmad M. Quazi, Well said Sir. We as a nation are in the habit of belittling others and stroking our own egos. lets all appreciate the efforts of last CJP for working so hard for the nation.

@A Patriotic National, Everybody in our country is an expert on everything. Lets leave the experts to do their job of evaluating the feasibility reports etc. Lets do our duties and jobs diligently, pay our taxes, help each other and respect law. This should be enough rather than doubting the intentions and expertise of others and criticizing all the time.

@Tahir A, it was all fine and dandy to "create awareness about scarcity of water and of water resources" but I object forced contributions which should be returned. If it wasn't for those forced contributions by the armed forces et al, the dam fund would have been even less than half of the abysmal 1% that has been collected so far.

It was wrong to give the impression that this dam fund would be "the solution". So yes the farcical drama should be brought to a dignified conclusion. And no more forced contributions.

"The attorney general told the court that the media, at the goading of Pemra, had given Rs13bn worth of free airtime to the fund — for which the total contribution has come to around Rs9bn". Will the government paid the thirteen billion to the media (which is already under severed financial stress)?

What happens to the unused funds?

good editorial..it should end and money should be returned back to low pain govt.servant and pensioners and from railway ticket

There was a world conference on large dams held in South Africa in the year 2000. We need to study the report of that conference for getting guidance about what and how to do. It would be advisable to publish the summary of the conference report in the print media.

@PAK-1, it was drama ,he wanted vacation and to attend his son graduation ceremony

To conserve water meter should be install in every house....so people pay according to usage

what will happen to the fund? I donated savings from my daughters marriage for this noble cause. Now I am worried is it right thing to donate for all these people? I paid from all hard earned money. I will never vote to PMIK in future.

now the 9 billion rs will be used for other exp

At least arrange for the ground breaking ceremony for the dams required to be constructed for benefitting the people of the country. The dams need not be constructed after that. Isn't it all that we have been doing all this time? The satisfaction of having performed the ground breaking ceremony is in itself an achievement for this country.

Spend it on saving water. Big results. Fast results. And puts responsibility on individuals. Pakistanis spend too much time thinking the government put roti on table for them.

@Ahmad M. Quazi, Respect is earned by those who follow the rules, not by those who violate them.

Excellent eidtorial. The money currently in the fund can be converted into a Trust Fund to provide ongoing support for any social initiative like medical care for critically ill poor, soup kitchens for homeless etc.

Perhaps the money should be given to the media outlets who gave them free ad space?

Rs 9Bn is no small amount, but is certainly not enough to bring about a huge dam. In stead, the govt should utilize the money to build smaller dams (called barrages) along rivers at regular distances that collectively are as effective as one large dam.

Here is a thought, why not go after, take and conclude all the money stolen from the likes of Zardari, Nawaz, Chaudhrys and all those other Elite looters. Fund will reach 100% in no time with surplus cash for the poor. Just a thought mind you.

one small but logic suggestion, why build expensive dams whilst you can dig and make reservoirs and canals to save and keep water from the Mountines ( Indus river) gets wasted into sea in Karachi, simple start digging don't cost much do it! let you know your thoughts please!

Timely and appropriate suggestion to SC. I am sure none of the people those are extensively advocating for the construction dams visited the downstream Kotri area. First they need to understand the water shortage issues downstream Kotri specially in districts Thatta, Sujawal and Badin and in particular Indus Delta to witness the actual situation of the inhabitants of the areas. Everyone knows this is very controversial issue so it would like beating the same drums.

Nice try.

'any criticism of the dam or the fund could be construed as treason', is that why tone of this editorial was withheld to wait till the then CJP retired? What happened to the much touted 'courage' of 'freedom of expression'? As for 'many of the questions asked by the public went unanswered' who was/is 'public' in this case? Did it/they get slapped with treason? And 'cajoling and coercing the people to give money', is this alluding to 'media... had given Rs13bn worth of free airtime to the fund'? What is being alluded to by 'in the name of the dam fund is astonishing'? Was and is it not still for the Dam fund? And 'at the end of the day, the amount collected has been dismal', what a reflection and on whom! That probably is on those who had accumulated too much to 'give' in the name of something good. Finally, 'now bring it all to a dignified end'. Vow. What a farewell to the outgoing and welcome to the incoming!

looking at the pace at which the dam is moving, the population will double itself by the time the dam is completed, and there will an immediate need for another such dam.

I am expecting my 2 days salary to be refunded soon.

How much money did the CJP raise in his foreign trip towards the dam project.

When systems and institutions become dysfunctional, extraordinary measures need to be taken to address urgent issues. This was done by the former CJP and need to be continued.

People at highest offices have been part of the gimmickry. Shows the lack of seriousness at all levels. Any reprimand for the misuse of public seat and resources by the honorable monsieur for a job he was never assigned for?

@Ahmad M. Quazi, I am not criticizing. In ur emotion, ur interpretation of this word deprive it's meaning the very jist of what it depicts. Sometimes we have to let it go. And is dignified to not interpret it as a total failure and to suggest to find a better way than to be a fool in denial.

Let the new CJP do his job of delivering justice on every level of judicial system. It is executive branch's responsibility to build dams.

Dam has become a obsession in Pakistan. May be you guys need to build underground facilities to store rain water and canals from rivers to those facilities. Check out how Japan does that.

The money received from the salaries of employees as a suo moto action must be returned to them as this donation was not volunteer.

Is it a fact that media gave Rs13billion of free airtime to the dam fund! How patriotic! If so, then why to close it noe,

Such good deeds must done as hobbies after official duties not in the government offices please.

"Crowd-sourcing has not worked, and the whole affair has reached absurd proportions. The new chief justice should now bring it all to a dignified end."

Indeed, absurd proportions is a matter of knowledge-base!

This kind of funding does not record source of funds and is an open invitation for corruption.

We don't know when our country will progress it's all goes useless and collecting money it's all drama writer has given good suggestion for the money utilization

Sensible editorial. Throughout the world, countries build dams and other irrigation initiatives. Only in Pakistan it is considered to be an outstanding achievement, with Chief Justice earmark foreign tours for collecting funds. Anyone speaking against threatened with contempt of court. With all fanfare, only less than one percent collected. There's no dignified closure to this, other than accepting the reality that fund collection is just a show or at the best awareness steps. When the FM is running from one country to another to collect funds to avoid being defaulter, Ex CJ runs for dams. Net result, even inaugural ceremony got postponed. Nowhere in the world, dams are built using crowdsourcing.

This fund should be in the name of PM. only. This is an example of an overzealous judge stepping outside of his judicial boundaries.

The Dam has become a dam problem for Pakistan. People give money but situation is such that money goes to healthcare. Where is the money? Qatar need to give loan now.

@Ahmad, : Very well said, Sir. Agree 100%.

Fantastic proposition. I can be quite sure the money already collected about Rs 9 Billion also would never be used for the dam.

Being a govt servant, give me back my money , it was involantary deduction !

I do not completely agree with the views in the editorial. Every little helps. So dam fund and public donations should continue. Ret CJ Saqib Nisar deserves commendation for highlighting the water issue and setting up dam fund, not ridicule.

A ludicrous editorial, instead of lauding the initiative you choose to criticise. Thinking of future generations is fairly fundamental to all development activities. Even the looters like NS think of future generations, but unfortunately they only think of their children and damn the rest.

In England I was amazed to hear an old age lady sending £100.00 to her family and £30.00 towards the dam fund it was hugely inspirational and you wish to disappoint these people.

You should be encouraging looters to bring their money back.

It was over confidence that caused the problem. Even when we have problem with Foreign currency people say we get the help from overseas Pakistani diaspora. All these things are not possible. Just old way working hard and saving can only do the magic.

I strongly disagree with your editorial. You were meek and humble and wrote a glorious article on the achievements of Saqib Nissar. What happened in couple of days. I never supported Saqib role in dam collection, however, it was a well meaning and patriotic act with good intentions. The Chinese philosopher Confusios once stated that journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. You are still asking the present CJ to have its dignified end. How he can end this without invoking his suo motu? There would be many Frankenstein monsters waiting to gulp this money. This fund is the love of Pakistani ordinary people. You may recall the earthquake of 2005.people waited for governmental help which never came and citizens of Pakistan took the task upon themselves with the result that there was surplus aid for the victims. You are mocking our patriotism and in future no worth cause would be raised by anyone because of your so-called dignified end.

This dam fund was a farce Friday m the beginning. Just how we were fooled by learned man.

Everyone knew this project is not going anywhere be it CJP, IK or FM but still everyone promoted it. What a shame, this also provides the credibility of these people.To raise funds for the nation is not wrong but the outcome should be measurable, practical and successful else the people loose hope and trust. The poor donated whereas the rich and educated laughed over it. PTI has dug it's own grave in long run.

@Mehboob Ali Lalani, - guess you didn’t understand the editorial so please read again. You cannot build dam with donations, period. You need proper studies and plan to build dams of such high cost. Regarding comparing with Ayub era, population has increased more than 2.5 times and during Ayub or earlier or later era, water was taken out of the ground without any consideration and trees were cut.

I think there is no law that restrain a CJ from establishing dam fund. Morever I have learned from the dawn's article that water crisis is a matter of life and death for pk nationals so advertisement cannot be blamed.secondly, donation of 13bn airtime by media for dam fund compaiagn is highly appreciable.thirdly i think there is nothing astonishing in convincing people for their contribution to dam fund.However,I believe that one should not be force for this contribution.lastly you cannot belittle worth of 9,000,000,000 (perhaps number of zero in it make you realize its worth) after all something is better than nothing.

@Judge, You judged it wrong. There is no drama here everyone knew that crowfunding will just help a little. 9 bn is not a small amount . The cost is high. I will prefer it going

it will be completely unfair to all those that contributed to the fund to stop it now... What would happen to that money? would each and everyone get it back?

It's a good initiative and should be carried on.

We are losing far more water via leaky and dilapidated infrastructure like pipelines and reservoirs. The money should be allocated towards that end rather than building dams

Very sensible advice. Also, we have noted some few people, who have no official or technical standing, who have been promoted in the free TV ads 'sponsored' by the ex-CJP during his tenure. The costs of ads may please be recovered from them .

@Khaled, it might also be a good idea to utilise these funds to start some practical and modest scale water reservoirs to supply water to draught -stricken areas of Sindh and Baluchistan.

Enough, The Theater of the Absurd must end now. Let there be some serious planning to address the water issue.

@Mehboob Ali Lalani, Mr. Lalani this water shortage is partly due to the construction of large dms. Do not forget that Karachi is at the tail end of the Indus river next to the delta. The more dams that you build upstream the less water Karachi gets.

Donation money must be used for the same purpose it was donated. This is commonsense. Remember the retired CJP himself donated money from his own pocket. There was no compulsion for him to raise the issue of building the dam. But, besides being the then CJ he is also a member of the same society. No cause could be more pressing for the peoples' daily life than building the dam. Queen Elizabeth! said 'Use of water and air is common to all'.

It was a quite sincere effort. Before the former CJP who took this step? No one. But now, as the idea of dam fund couldn't work well, there is a dire need of working on a new properly planned scheme. Because it's for the sake of our country's future.

@Ahmad M. Quazi, " You are throwing dirt on the actions of the ‘ (former) Chief Justice’ of Pakistan and the ‘Prime Minister’ of Pakistan. Please give them the respect they deserve so that the same kind of respect given to you" Had they come with popular mandate, they would have been respected. But proxies are never respected anywhere, especially spineless, incapable, ineffective, inefficient suck ups that richly deserve scorn. Enough said.

Interesting to read the comments. Urgency and news still exists but the method has to be more sustainable. CJP put spotlight on lack of governance and accountability

The dam fund managed to raise awareness about a serious issue. The money could be used to build microdams in small villages.

For a country plagued with gigantic problems is this the priority of the Judiciary and Government ? Intellectual bankruptcy is haunting the nation.

This is not the first time " forced contributions " have been taken from government servants and armed forces personnel. These contributions were taken during earthquake, floods etc. No one raised any objections then. The views in the editorial reflect the views of anti dam forces. The contribution may be nominal but it has created awareness about dams and put the ant dam forces on the defensive. The figure of 9 billion rupees on dam's. Ads apparently highly exaggerated. If the ads cost was 9 billion in one year, the cost of ads by the previous governments on personal projections would have been about 10 times more. I wish this editorial had been written about a month earlier if Dawn honestly believed in its views.

@Mehboob Ali Lalani: The only solution to overcome the shortage of water in Karachi is to establish desalination plants. All big cities on coastal lines around the world, have resorted to this method of procurement of water to meet their daily consumption needs. Canal water is available only for three to four months of year and it is not sufficient to cater for the needs of urban centers. Now, another big city Gawadar is being build in Balochistan, and it can only thrive on establishing desalination plants.

Dams are never built with charity money. But in Pakistan, most resources are spent on armed forces. Very little is left for the public good.

Rather than closing the fund it should be used for establishing world class water resource management institutes in all the provinces and promoting awareness of the subject among the general public.

Ending the fund campaign makes sense. But it would be unethical, not matter how legitimate the new project is, to spend the money (without the donors' approval) on things unrelated to what it was originally donated for.

You folks are so negative. If Ethiopia can build a dam using this technique, why cant Pakistan. Just change the method. Issue bonds as well.

@Omair , charity begins at home. sometimes you have to think outside of the box. by going to various friendly countries and appealing to the diaspora, the PM and the chief justice have shown themselves to be public servants whereas the previous incumbents have viewed the public as servants.

@Mehboob Ali Lalani, Did u contribute?

@M Naqvi , please read the editorial again. It is not criticising the dam initiative. It only tells, how it can be closed respectably. You don't go on asking for funds and by end of one year less than one percent collection is achieved. At this rate, it will take a century for collecting full funds. Govt need to stop this initiative and when funding becomes viable it should go for collection and construction activities.

@Ahmad M. Quazi,
Excellant comments sir!

I said this the first time the news came out that CJP was supporting and overseeing the Dam Fund. None of his business.

@Judge, Every reasonable person will agree with you.

@PAK-1, those figures seem inflated . The former CJP traveled with his entire family to London on who knows whose expense . Some of the family stayed at in a well appointed flat and he stayed in 5 star hotel . The fund raiser included dinner and proved to be a hyped event that barely saw any of the well accomplished British Pakistanis part take . Most participants were the lower strata or first generation Pakistanis who mentally live in Pakistan and physically live in UK . The former CJP probably spent more money on publicity and expenses than collecting money for the dam fund . The truth is fund raising is not the job of a Supreme Court judge and that time and money should be spent working overtime adjudicating backlog of cases .

People have been made damn fool

Instead, all parliamentarians and industrialists no matter the ethnic group, party, religion. They should start contributing a lion's share. This is for Pakistan.

fund a dam for salvation in the future?..no wonder u guys are going down the tube.

It's like I was collecting donations for my ill grandfather; but since the medical bill was too high, I bought toys for myself, instead of returning back the money.

2 minutes of silence for all those who donated their hard earned money.