Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the decision regarding the “continuation” of the system has been taken during an important meeting of the PML-N leadership in Murree.
Speaking on a private TV channel, Rana Sanaullah said the continuation could last for five years or 10 years, but “whatever happens will be in line with the Constitution".
He explained that senior party leaders met in Murree to make this decision. “Some people had doubts about it, but we already knew. In any case, whatever happens will be constitutional,” he added.
On the issue of new dams, Rana Sanaullah stressed the need for political consensus. “Nothing is impossible. All political parties should sit together and create consensus. If a resolution has been passed in this regard, new resolutions can also be brought forward in light of climate change,” he said.
Commenting on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Rana Sanaullah suggested that he should meet the PTI founder. “If Gandapur can convince the founder to negotiate with political parties, it would be a positive step,” he noted.
He recalled that during the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, Gandapur raised the issue of the Kalabagh Dam in connection with water disputes. “At that time, no one could have predicted the current situation, but today things have become clearer,” he remarked.
Also Read: KP CM Gandapur backs Kalabagh Dam in Pakistan’s national interest
The prime minister’s adviser also said that the PTI founder had long harboured a strong desire to introduce a presidential system in Pakistan. “Perhaps Ali Amin Gandapur made his statement in line with the founder’s wishes. Personally, I believe there is no space for a presidential system in the country. In the present circumstances, I don’t want to discuss the issue further. If something is done with consensus, it can be considered, but nothing should be imposed unilaterally,” Rana Sanaullah emphasised.
A fresh debate has erupted in Pakistan over the controversial Kalabagh Dam project after a couple of days ago, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur voiced strong support for its construction, saying the project should be undertaken in Pakistan’s national interest and not for provincial or personal gains.
Also Read: Aleem Khan calls for consensus on Kalabagh Dam, welcomes Gandapur's support
Speaking to senior journalists, Gandapur said: “Had 25% of the dam budget been spent earlier, this destruction could have been avoided,” adding that the provincial government had already started dam projects in Lakki Marwat and Karak, with similar work to begin in Peshawar. He also pointed to recurring issues of landslides in Malakand and Hazara and dismissed claims that deforestation caused the recent cloudburst in Buner.
His remarks, however, triggered a split within his own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Party Chairman Barrister Gohar backed the idea, saying dams -- big or small, including Kalabagh -- should be built with the consensus of all provinces.
On the other hand, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser dismissed Gandapur’s statement as a personal opinion, clarifying it was not party policy. He argued that there was no current need for the Kalabagh Dam and that smaller dams could be prioritized instead, warning against reopening controversial issues.
Also Read: PTI chairman backs Kalabagh Dam following Gandapur’s support
The next day, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan 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 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.
