K-P CM Urges Federal Govt to Address Reservations Over Shelved Project
ISLAMABAD:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has termed the Kalabagh Dam “vital for the survival of the state,” urging the federal government to engage in dialogue and address the longstanding reservations of provinces opposed to the project.
Speaking to reporters after a party meeting at the K-P House in Islamabad on Monday, the PTI leader warned that the absence of large reservoirs had amplified the devastation caused by recent floods.
“We are even hesitant to mention the names of some dams, but the Kalabagh project is essential for the country. If there are objections, then dialogue must be initiated to resolve them,” Gandapur said.
The chief minister stressed that K-P was willing to contribute its share for the project and called on other provinces to step forward as well. He argued that repeated delays in constructing major dams had inflicted enormous losses on the country, forcing his government to begin smaller dam projects on its own.
“Just last year, we completed six dams. The Gomal Zam Dam has been finished, which significantly reduced losses, and now we are building more dams across different districts to minimize future risks,” he added.
For Peshawar’s safety, Gandapur noted, the Jabba Dam is under construction, while a protective wall is being built in Budhni to shield the city from seasonal flooding. Referring to the recent tragedy in Buner, where hundreds of lives were lost, he clarified that the destruction was caused by a sudden cloudburst, not deforestation.
“Cloudbursts are a natural phenomenon triggered by intense atmospheric heat and can occur anywhere,” he explained. The CM revealed that his government was planning to install stone barriers modeled after Switzerland supported by nets to block rocks and debris carried by floodwaters.
The Kalabagh Dam, first proposed in the 1950s, has remained one of Pakistan’s most contentious mega-projects due to ethnic and provincial divisions. Planned to be built on the Indus River in Mianwali, Punjab, the dam is expected to generate 3,600 megawatts of electricity and is often cited as a long-term solution to Pakistan’s recurring floods and chronic water shortages.
