Punjab cabinet to donate one month salary after PM’s dam appeal

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced the donation during his second cabinet meeting

LAHORE: Members of the Punjab cabinet decided to donate a month's salary to the chief justice's fund for the construction of Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dams on Saturday after the Prime Minister Imran Khan's earlier appeal to the nation encouraging donations.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said the construction of the reservoirs was an essential endeavour while chairing his second cabinet meeting.



In his address to the nation on Friday, the premier called the ongoing water crisis the biggest challenge confronting the country. If new reservoirs were not built within seven years, the country would be facing drought, he said.

He appealed overseas citizens as well to contribute to the project, saying “overseas Pakistanis, especially those living in European countries, should contribute at least $100 to the PM/CJP’s fund for dams.”



Out of Rs1.93 billion, donated to the fund for the construction of dams, Rs1.91 billion was donated domestically.

According to data available till September 6, a total of Rs1.93 billion has been donated so far. Only Rs20 million has been donated by overseas Pakistanis while the remaining Rs1.91 billion was raised locally.