Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has declared that the Kalabagh Dam is vital for the state’s future, stressing that any reservations regarding the project should be resolved through dialogue.
Speaking to the media after a party meeting at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, he emphasized that the construction of Kalabagh Dam is crucial for Pakistan and the coming generations. He said provincial biases must not be allowed to damage the national interest, nor can such an important project for the collective benefit of the country be pushed aside.
The Chief Minister highlighted that delays in dam construction have caused severe destruction during heavy rains and floods. He said, “We hesitate to even mention the names of certain dams, yet Kalabagh Dam is an essential requirement for the state. We are ready to contribute our share for its construction, and other provinces should also participate so the project can finally materialize.”
Ali Amin Gandapur further noted that the lack of dam construction in the past had inflicted massive losses on the country. However, the provincial government has now started building dams on its own. He revealed that six dams were completed last year, while the Gomal Zam Dam has already helped reduce flood damage. He added that several new dams are under construction across different districts to address water-related challenges.
The Chief Minister explained that Jaba Dam is being built to protect Peshawar, while a protective wall at Budhni is being erected to shield the city from floods. Commenting on the recent cloudburst in Buner, he clarified that it had no connection with deforestation but occurred due to extreme weather conditions, which can happen anywhere. To control landslides and rockfall during floods, he announced that protective nets similar to those in Switzerland would be installed.
