ZAHEER ABBASI
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday urged the overseas Pakistanis to donate for ‘Dam Fund’ to help the government construct Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dam, as the country is heading towards a serious water crisis.
The Prime Minister in a brief televised address named the existing dam fund set up by the Chief Justice of Pakistan as Chief Justice-Prime Minister Fund and appealed to the overseas Pakistanis to donate at least $1,000 or more for it to help the country construct dams. Water scarcity is going to be a major problem of the country with experts warning that the country can face drought by 2025. “If we do not start constructing dams now, the coming generations will be facing serious problems,” he added.
He further stated that Pakistan is having only 20 days water storage capacity against the safest level of 120 days, while the water storage capacity of India is for 190 days. The water availability to each individual has reduced from 5,600 cubic meters in 1947 to 1,000 cubic meters at present, the Prime Minister added.
The government is facing serious fiscal problems and cannot manage huge funds required for construction of dams, therefore, overseas Pakistanis in general and those living in Europe and the US are appealed to contribute minimum $1000 to the Dam Fund, he said.
Khan said that 8-9 million Pakistanis are living abroad and $1,000 contribution by them will not only help the government construct dams within five years but it will also resolve the problem of balance of payment.
The Prime Minister also cited the example of Neelum-Jhelum project whose cost increased from Rs 80 billion to Rs 500 billion primarily because the government was not having required finances. He said he was provided enormous support by the overseas Pakistanis in construction of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital (SKMT) and stated: “I assure you that I will protect your money.”
The Prime Minister also asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) organizations in Europe and other countries to help government in this cause. He said that problem has been visible for the last 30 years and it is responsibility of the political leadership to foresee the problems and take steps to resolve them.
