Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has stressed the need for a national consensus on building new dams, including the long-debated Kalabagh Dam.
He welcomed the support expressed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, calling it positive, and urged collective decision-making involving all provinces.
Call for unity on water issues
Abdul Aleem Khan, who is also the president of the Istehakam-e-Pakistan Party, emphasised that water is Pakistan’s most pressing challenge and must be addressed from a broader national perspective. He said that the construction of new dams is vital to tackling future water crises and preventing disasters such as devastating floods.
“Any dam should be built with mutual consent,” the federal minister stated, adding that the solution lies in bringing together the four provincial assemblies and their chief ministers to agree on a common water policy.
Saving trillions through water storage
Highlighting the economic impact, Abdul Aleem Khan said Pakistan loses water worth trillions of rupees every year due to the absence of sufficient storage facilities. Building new dams, he noted, would not only conserve precious resources but also ensure a reliable supply for agriculture and domestic needs.
Immediate need for small dams
The minister also underscored the urgent need for small dams across all provinces to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce flood risks. “Floods are no longer the problem of a single province; they have become a national crisis,” he remarked, stressing that emergency measures are required.
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Khan further noted that the whole of Pakistan was in the grip of climate change and its negative effects.
IPP role
Abdul Aleem Khan assured that the Stability Pakistan Party is ready to play its full role in forging national consensus on water management. He called for the formation of a comprehensive policy at the national level, warning that working in isolation would not solve the problem.
“It is the joint responsibility of all of us to save the country from future floods,” he said. “We must move forward together for the sake of Pakistan’s survival.”
On Monday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had voiced support for the construction of the Kalabagh Dam, saying the project should be undertaken in Pakistan’s national interest and not for provincial or personal gains.
Speaking to senior journalists, Gandapur said wrong policies had turned Afghanistan into an adversary. “Forty years later, we are sending them back, but they are still blocked in my province. Why not grant them citizenship when billions of dollars are being invested?” he said, adding that a student visa scheme was initiated on his request. He also offered medical assistance for victims of recent earthquakes in Afghanistan.
Highlighting the province’s security challenges, Gandapur said, “There isn’t a single sniper rifle in the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. No police station or officer has a bulletproof vehicle, yet we are up against those who defeated America.” He stressed the need for greater investment in the police, noting a shortage of 92 officers and urging the federal government to provide resources.
