ISLAMABAD
\nThe 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: \u201cI am in favour of the Kalabagh Dam. It should be built. Build consensus, address the concerns of the provinces, and construct the Kalabagh Dam.\u201d
\nHe also urged a national dialogue on the project, urging the media to play a constructive role in initiating debate. \u201cThink 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,\u201d Gandapur added.
\nKP CM further said that the issue in Kalabagh is limited to one district and belongs to the Awami National Party (ANP). \u201cAimal Wali said, \u2018our generations will not allow the dam to be built. The Kalabagh Dam will be built over our dead bodies\u2019, but I would like to tell Aimal Wali that this is Pakistan\u2019s issue. What do the dead bodies and generations have to do with it?\u201d
\nGandapur also supported the creation of new provinces, saying that governance would improve with smaller provincial units. \u201cSmall units are formed in countries around the world. Pakistan is the only country that is running on four provinces with such a large population,\u201d he said. Regarding dams, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is going to build two dams on its own. \u201cThink about why Sindh repeatedly floods.
\nIs the water allocated to Sindh being fully utilised? If Sindh believes it will be left thirsty, let\u2019s sit together and decide. Everything can be resolved. If we sit with Sindh, we will give them a larger share of our water. Sindh\u2019s politicians are constrained by their politics.\u201d
\nHowever, PTI central leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser did not really concur with KP chief minister\u2019s support for the Kalabagh Dam, and termed it as his personal opinion. He said that Gandapur\u2019s comments should not be considered as party policy.
\n\u201cI wanted to make it clear that it was Ali Amin Khan\u2019s personal opinion to support the Kalabagh dam as it\u2019s the party\u2019s (PTI) policy. We don\u2019t consider that we need Kalabagh dam, and small dams can be constructed,\u201d Qaiser said in a statement that he posted on his \u2018X\u2019 handle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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: \u201cI am in favour of the Kalabagh Dam. It should be built. Build consensus, address the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-500794","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n