Every politician gives excuse of lack of consensus between provinces for not building KBD that is the vital need for economic survival of Pakistan. The fact of the matter is that the 1991 Water Accord achieved by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif stipulates that any feasible dam on Indus may be built. The Accord gave Sindh equal share of water with Punjab i.e. 37% while Punjab had 73% irrigated area of Pakistan and Sindh had only 15% percent. However later on KBD was politicized and the three provincial assemblies of Sindh, KP and Baluchistan passed resolutions against KBD without any constitutional powers. The Council of Common Interests is the sole body to decide on mega hydro-electric dams storing water and generating power. Lahore High Court has already ruled that KBD may be built to fulfill the condition of 1991 Water Accord as there was no need for a fresh mandate. According to views of an eminent Engineer B.A. Malik mandate for KBD already existed in 1991 Water Accord. However the Water Accord awaits it implementation as now water shortages are being shared instead of future storages of water.
DR M YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore