–Khan emphasises on ‘urgency to build Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams’ in meeting with WAPDA chairman
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan met with Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman General (r) Muzammil Hussain at the PM Office on Monday to discuss the water crisis and energy production in the country.
During the meeting, the prime minister emphasised the urgency of building the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams. “I may supervise dams project myself, given the urgency,” PM Khan tweeted.
In his tweet, the prime minister said there was a total outflow of 45 million acre-feet (MAF) in Pakistan out of which 80 per cent was in the three months and only 20 per cent in the rest of the nine months. He then clarified his tweet, saying that “Pakistan’s total water outflow is 145 MAF, not 45 MAF – a typographical error occurred”.
Met Chairman Wapda today & emphasised urgency of building the Diamer Bhasha & Mohmand Dams. I may supervise Dams project myself, given the urgency. 45 maf is total water outflow of Pak, of which 80% is in 3 mths & only 20% in rest of 9 mths.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 10, 2018
The prime minister added that there were only 185 dams in Pakistan of which only two were large ones. “In contrast, India has 5,000 dams and China has 84,000 dams including 4,000 large ones.”
Prime Minister Khan stressed there was a need to avert the looming water crisis confronting Pakistan.
Pakistan has only 185 dams – & only 2 large ones. In contrast India has 5000 dams and China has 84000 dams including 4000 large ones. We need to avert the looming water crisis confronting Pakistan. https://t.co/gvdyABHErj
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 10, 2018
In his address to the nation on September 7, PM Khan termed the water crisis to be the biggest issue of the country and sought assistance from overseas Pakistanis to help overcome it.
“The largest problem is the water issue in the country,” he maintained.
The premier said that it was crucial for Pakistan to build dams as failure to do so could be detrimental to its future generations.
