Senator Mushahid Hussain has said, as reported on a television channel, that Kalabagh dam means losing the sovereignty of Pakistan. His statement is contrary to views of his party leader Ch Pervez Illahi who has said that Pakistan is in vital need of Pakistan i.e., to preserve its sovereignty. This amounts to spreading confusion about the views of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid about Kalabagh dam. In any case, if Mr Mushahid Hussain opts for no Kalabagh dam, he must be prepared for Pakistan being declared a bankrupt state which is a sure way to lose the so-called sovereignty when we pledge even our Tarbela dam turbines to qualify for loan from international agencies.
Mr Mushahid Hussain is an accomplished journalist but his views on Kalabagh dam lack perspective about the role of a mega hydroelectric dam which could deliver at least additional four billion US$ annually in the form of agriculture and industrial output, thus freeing us from IMF trap that has made us hostage to severe financial strictures that are sucking the life out of our people leading to mass poverty, unemployment and crime upsurge. Mr Mushahid Hussain ought to be well informed as a master journalist to see the writing on the well.
DR M Y BHATTI
Lahore
