It appeared strange to read the views of eminent engineer Mr Shams-ul-Mulk about KBD stating that KBD might be built without a canal on the left side for Punjab. This position was preposterous as how it would be possible for Punjab to avail its 37 per cent share of water from the dam as per historic Water Accord of 1991. Punjab had agreed to 37 per cent share although it had 73 per cent of the irrigated area of Pakistan and agreeing to an equal share of 37 per cent for Sindh which had only 15 per cent of the total irrigated area. The contention that Punjab for the time being may utilise its ground water is fallacious as Punjab has already depleted its ground water by over-pumping of tube wells.
Depriving Punjab of its share of water while preserving 14 per cent share of KP to irrigate 8 lac acres of Dera Ismail Khan is not fair or just. Moreover CCI had agreed in allocating shares of all the four provinces and it would be unthinkable that Punjab could agree to decimate its share already reduced to 37 per cent for no reason at all. This would be regarded as another attempt at Punjab bashing which could not be in national interest as it would amount to destroying the bread basket of Pakistan.
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
