The Kalabagh Dam could produce up to 15 billion units of power every year at an average cost of Rs3 to 5 per kwh within the next five years. PHOTO: FILE
A series of speeches and lectures on “Economic Growth through Kalabagh Dam” summarised the importance of the project, stressing that it has the potential to bring an end to the load-shedding ordeal and increase industrial output by more than $5 billion a year.
It was also stated in the seminar, jointly organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Sind Tas Water Council here on Saturday, that the dam could help in eradicating rural poverty in Pakistan, help in increasing agricultural output by $10 billion a year and benefit all the provinces.
The speakers, which included former finance minister Dr Salman Shah and former chief minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Shamsul Mulk, said that the Kalabagh Dam could produce up to 15 billion units of power every year at an average cost of Rs3 to 5 per kilowatt hour within the next five years. The annual cost of the endeavour will be around Rs22 billion. The option will save the economy billions of rupees, reducing the current account deficit, boost foreign reserves and strengthen the rupee.
In a telephonic address, Mulk said that he had been stressing on the issue but to no avail. “The dam is absolutely essential to irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that is located 100-150 feet above the Indus river level in NWFP,” said Mulk. “This land can only be brought under cultivation if the river level is raised that is only possible if Kalabagh Dam is built.
“The other alternative is to pump the water which is very costly.”
Meanwhile, Dr Shah said that the Kalabagh dam is the ‘only project in Pakistan that can make power affordable for the masses in a short period of five years’. “It is also the only project that can make the economy competitive and sustainable without the crutches of bailouts and loss of sovereignty,” said Shah.
Meanwhile, LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari urged the government to focus on construction of water reservoirs in the country. “The country had already suffered a huge financial loss due to unavailability of electricity, gas but it is very unfortunate that Kalabagh Dam had been labelled as a political issue,” said Lashari. “It is not a political issue at all. It’s an economic issue and merits priority keeping in view the economic conditions. “Balochistan and Sindh would be the biggest beneficiary of the Kalabagh Dam.”
Dr Ibrahim Mughal added that the dam’s construction would help in bringing an additional 2 million acres of land under irrigation in Sindh, Badin, Thatta and other districts, while 800,000 acres in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa. It would also help in irrigating 700,000 acres in Balochistan and also provide essential water to Punjab.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2013.
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Kala Bagh Dam Banao Pakistan Bachao
Everyone knows that the dam is beneficial for Sindh but the problem is that there is trust deficient between Sindh and Punjab. Going back in history the Chasma-Jehlum link canal was built was flood drain canal, to be opened only during high flood period but it has been open in all season since it started operation.
In the case of Kalabagh dam, Punjab wants to take a canal direct from the dam for irrigation, this is what Sindh province is against. If there is no canal taken out directly from the dam then there is absolutely no issue in building Kalabagh dam.
To start with, change the name of Kalabagh dam to some other so that this aversion should subside. Make it PK dam, Sabzbagh dam, or add any prefix. Here people are gullible and naive and were fooled over the years that this dam will cause the drowning of Nowshehra citya and the Sind will turn barren. Need to start the media and image building campaign first about the positives.
Building Kalabagh dam will also lessen tensions with India on water disputes as Pakistan will have enough water and can also manage floods more effectively. This will lessen the possibility of Pakistan blaming India unreasonably for floods and water shortages. I support every effort by Pakistan to build Kalabagh dam. However, Punjab has to take adequate care of the interests of other provinces.
Its seems far too sensible, so we will never build it.
NS should build KBD , he'll become more popular in punjab and punjab is key player which decides who'll be in fedration , i hope other provinces will also understand its need and usefullness
Gee, seems like the next best thing since sliced bread. It is about time Pakistani people made a resolve to begin eating grass, like so many leaders have mentioned and put THEIR resources together for this project and their future generations. Let the funds come from sacrifices like taxation, elimination of corruption, etc. and lets win... Anything else is just smoke...
Tribune I doubt you have guts to print this...
Wish our politicians think for the country and build Kalabagh dam. It is much cheaper than Basha dam. For instance, Basha Dam will store 8.1 MAF of water and produce 4500 MWs of electricity but at a phenomenal cost of $14 billion, whereas, Kalabagh dam will store 7.9 MAF of water and produce 3600-3800 MWs of electricity at a much cost of only $6 billion.
Kalabaqh will be built, there is no alternative to the location of Kalabagh. The good things is that slowly but surely the masses are coming to senses after getting electrical shocks produced through furnace oil.
Had it been built, the country is in much better shape today.
regards,