Kalabagh Dam: A Pillar To Vitalise National Economy.

Pakistan's national economy is in dire states. According to a recent report of UNDP, the nation is facing a debt scenario in excess of Rs. 50 trillion ($250 billion). It says that the world's fifth most populous country is a lower income country potentially capable to be in world's ten largest economies by 2047. Pakistan is currently facing tremendous economic hazards and challenges.

Kalabagh Dam project has been a slightly controversial multipurpose hydro power project. It is in fact a highly valuable venture largely misunderstood in some sections of the country. Unfortunately, no big water storage dam has been build in last forty years. Consequently we are now facing serious water storages. Having a potential of water storage to the tune of 6.1 maf and power generation potential of 3600MW as verified internationally can vitalize the Pakistan economy in a short time.

Absence of KBD

The denial of Kalabagh Dam to the KP is the greatest betrayal. 'We have damaged our water interest more than what India has done by withholding some water of our rivers', Shamusul Mulk, a former WAPDA Chairman said. In terms of the water accord agreed by all provinces promising water sharing formula, the stored water of Kalabagh Dam Project on implementation would provide the agreed of water to Sindh also which can revolutionize the economy of Sind province as well. Pakistan has been bestowed with great hydel wealth and it has the fifth largest water irrigation and drainage system in the World. Most of this water is potable which was rare in the world. It is one of the few places in the world where farmers harvested 2 to 3 crops a year. Moreover, Pakistan has one of the largest underground water reserves in the world. 'A country with such natural resources cannot be poor'.

The country's water level would drop to 1,000 M3 (Cubic Meters) per capita in 2025 which is considered to be 'extreme water scarcity', while Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs are rapidly losing their storage capacities because of sedimentation. 'This is pushing Pakistan towards a national disaster, making the construction of Kalabagh Dam highly imperative.

As a result of the Indus Water Treaty 1960, Pakistan had lost water of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej and because of constant infighting had been unable to fully utilize water of the remaining three rivers: Indus, Jhelum and Chennab. On the other hand, India had built 4,291 dams and planned to build another 695...