FAISALABAD, Dec 20: The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) has announced a full support to the government for the completion of Kalabagh dam. FCCI chief Mian Hanif said at a news conference here on Tuesday the time had come for the top brass of the government to come forward and make announcement for the construction of big water reservoirs with completion of Kalabagh dam on war footing.

He said the country had been facing severe shortage of water due to non-availability of required number of reservoirs. Water was being thrown into the sea due to this negligence and the industrial sector has been forced to purchase electricity at higher rates from the IPPs.

He said the increase in the tariff of electricity was directly hitting the commercial and business activities. Scores of industrial units have become sick while overall industries in the NWFP have become idle for want of power.

Mian Hanif said some elements were creating hurdles in the construction of Kalabagh dam without any logic which was highly unjustified.

The entire trade circle, including all the bodies like Anjuman Tajran, Faisalabad, and other associations would fully support the government move if it announced construction of Kalabagh dam in the near future.

He said the FCCI would also launch an awareness campaign to apprise people of the importance of this gigantic project.

He claimed that the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry would also back the construction of Kalabagh dam.

FCCI president said the government should take bold step and announce the construction of this water reservoir.

He asked the anti-dam elements not to politicize the issue.