Prime Minister Imran Khan has made an impassioned appeal to all Pakistanis, particularly overseas diaspora to generously donate funds to help the country build dams.
In his message broadcast on national media on Friday night, the Prime Minister said future of next generations will be in jeopardy, if we do not take any urgent steps to build water reservoirs.
Imran Khan said construction of a dam for Pakistan today is inevitable and pointed that the country has an average water storage capacity of only 30 days, as compared to 190 days of India and 1000 days for Egypt.
He said on an average, a country should have 120-day storage capacity.
The Prime Minister said the experts had already warned about the impact of climate change on Pakistan and said the country could be hit by a drought by the year 2025 if new dams are not constructed now.
Imran Khan said there are around eight to nine million Pakistanis living abroad and by their remittances, we will not only get the money for the dams, but will also get the urgently needed foreign exchange reserves.
The Prime Minister also lauded the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar, for his initiative of launching funds for the construction of dams.
He said it was the responsibility of the political leadership of the country to take initiative for construction of dams.
Imran Khan announced merger of Prime Minister’s Fund and that of the Chief Justice and made an appeal to the overseas Pakistanis to send in remittances for the dams in US dollars.
He expressed the hope that with the funds available, Pakistan will be able to build the dams in five years.
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The Prime Minister promised to protect every penny of hard earned money of the people of Pakistan.
Analysts, political figures term construction of dams as need of hour
Analysts and political figures have termed construction of dams as need of the hour to meet water scarcity in the country.
Talking to Radio Pakistan’s News and Current Affairs Channel, PTI leader Umer Ayub said construction of new dams is call of the hour and essential for a vibrant economy.
He urged overseas Pakistanis to donate generously to overcome this serious threat.
Analyst Dr Noor Fatima said water is lifeline for the country and the new government has timely realized the importance of water for survival of the country. She said dams also produce hydroelectricity on affordable rates.
Another analyst Tahir Basharat Cheema said per capita water availability is dwindling with every passing day in the country and every Pakistani must contribute generously to check water scarcity.
