What’ll Pakistan be in 10 years? A desert!

The Punjab Assembly has demanded of the federal government to construct Kalabagh Dam (KBD) immediately or the country would become a desert without electricity. Besides, KBD the PA also passed unanimously resolution against increase in petroleum prices and demanded of the centre to withdraw the increase. The PA session started with a delay of one hour and 45 minutes with Rana Muhammad Iqbal in chair. During the pre-budget proposals, the Treasury benches put forward a demand regarding construction of KBD and also building small dams for producing electricity.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid forward bloc member Chaudhry Sher Ali said the government should construct KBD since there was no alternative to it. He said the provincial government should allocate funds for this project. “No matter how many dams we build, KBD is the only one which would save us,” he said adding that the government should give first priority to the agriculture sector and should restore the Green Tractor Scheme. “It was a good scheme and it was stopped for no reason,” he said adding that the government should also subsidies agriculture equipments so that latest equipment could be used in the sector to increase production. He said huge amount was being spent on research for developing seeds but this time the government should import seed rather then spending on research. “The seed developed for arid areas of Punjab has failed and now the government should import seed,” he suggested.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Ali Asghar Munda endorsed Sher Ali and said KBD should be constructed immediately and the federal government should be contacted in this regard. He said small dams should be built to store water and to produce electricity. “Our country will turn into a desert if dams are not constructed and water is not stored for irrigation,” he said adding that the government should also work on biogas projects since it was the only way to overcome the energy crisis. “It is high time for us to start biogas projects to overcome energy shortage,” he added.
The PA also passed resolution against petroleum prices. PML-N MPA Ijaz Ahmed Khan moved the resolution stating that federal government should immediately reverse the petroleum prices since the prices had fallen in the international market and the government had increased them instead of decreasing them.
Twelve Treasury benchers and 2 Opposition benchers unanimously passed the resolution. Speaker Rana Iqbal was confused over declaring it unanimous, since only 14 members were present in the House. However, on the insistence of the Treasury benches, it was declared a unanimous resolution. The PA also took questions regarding Health Department. Provincial Secretary for Health in PA Dr Saeed Elahi responded to the questions.