ISLAMABAD
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) showed signs of division over the long-standing and politically contentious Kalabagh Dam project, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur publicly reiterated his support for its construction. Speaking to the media, Gandapur said: “I am in favour of the Kalabagh Dam. It should be built. Build consensus, address the concerns of the provinces, and construct the Kalabagh Dam.”
He also urged a national dialogue on the project, urging the media to play a constructive role in initiating debate. “Think not in terms of politics, but of the state. Pakistan needs the Kalabagh Dam. Smaller dams cannot be an alternative to the Kalabagh Dam. Initiate a debate on national consensus regarding the Kalabagh Dam. The media should help. Personally, I am in favour of creating more provinces, but we must see whether they can stand on their own feet,” Gandapur added.
KP CM further said that the issue in Kalabagh is limited to one district and belongs to the Awami National Party (ANP). “Aimal Wali said, ‘our generations will not allow the dam to be built. The Kalabagh Dam will be built over our dead bodies’, but I would like to tell Aimal Wali that this is Pakistan’s issue. What do the dead bodies and generations have to do with it?”
Gandapur also supported the creation of new provinces, saying that governance would improve with smaller provincial units. “Small units are formed in countries around the world. Pakistan is the only country that is running on four provinces with such a large population,” he said. Regarding dams, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is going to build two dams on its own. “Think about why Sindh repeatedly floods.
Is the water allocated to Sindh being fully utilised? If Sindh believes it will be left thirsty, let’s sit together and decide. Everything can be resolved. If we sit with Sindh, we will give them a larger share of our water. Sindh’s politicians are constrained by their politics.”
However, PTI central leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser did not really concur with KP chief minister’s support for the Kalabagh Dam, and termed it as his personal opinion. He said that Gandapur’s comments should not be considered as party policy.
“I wanted to make it clear that it was Ali Amin Khan’s personal opinion to support the Kalabagh dam as it’s the party’s (PTI) policy. We don’t consider that we need Kalabagh dam, and small dams can be constructed,” Qaiser said in a statement that he posted on his ‘X’ handle.
