LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday said that the construction of Kalabagh Dam will be followed after the completion of Diamer-Bhasha project, adding that the former will be a “genuine guarantor of the country’s survival”.
While addressing a ceremony in Lahore, he said, “After Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams, we would build Kalabagh Dam as well, if the nation stays united.”
The chief justice said a plan to construct Kalabagh Dam was not abandoned, arguing that experts insisted in their research that its construction was not immediately possible. He resolved to run the dam fundraising campaign like a movement.
“Initially, I had no idea this initiative will become a movement. Even Little children are donating for this cause. The army chief gave us a big donation of more than one billion rupees,” he said.
The CJP said a group of transgenders donated Rs0.1 million on Friday and he will like to give Rs0.1 million as an encouragement for their spirit. “So, this will make Rs 0.2 million donation on their behalf,” he said.
He said about he came across the issue of water scarcity in Quetta around four to five months ago. “The issue of drought would have gravely perilous consequences and there’s only one solution to cope with this situation that we build more dams,” the CJP suggested.
“Scores of people will have to migrate from Quetta if the issue of water scarcity persists,” he warned.
CJP Nisar mentioned that the Akhuwat organisation also donated Rs1 million for the dams.
DAMS FUND:
The Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund was established by the state bank on the directions of the Supreme Court. All the commercial and micro-finance banks, and field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation have opened the fund account to receive donations in cash, and through cheques, pay orders and demand drafts at all their branches across the country.
The donors can also make online donations to the fund through internet banking, automatic teller machines (ATM) and other alternate delivery channels (ADC) using IBAN of their respective bank. The banks have sent the IBAN of the fund account to their clients through SMS alerts, while the bank-wise list of IBAN is also available at the SBP’s web page.
Citizens can also donate Rs10 to the CJP’s dam fund by typing “dam” and sending the SMS to 8000 which will deduct the amount from the phone’s credit.
The donations can also be made through credit/debit cards from anywhere in the world by clicking the “Online collections for Supreme Court Diamer Bhasha & Mohamand Dams Fund” on the SBP’s web page.
The overseas Pakistanis having PKR accounts in their home country can also make donations in the fund through the internet banking facility of their respective banks.