*ISLAMABAD: *The Supreme Court of Pakistan has taken up the plea of theKalabah Dam construction.

SC has sought reply from the federal government on a petition regarding theconstruction of Kalabagh Dam.

A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian SaqibNisar took up the plea filed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan of Watan Party.

During the hearing, Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that there was nodoubt that the dam should be constructed but provinces are yet to reach aconsensus on this issue.

The bench sought reply from the government within 15 days.

According to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), theKalabagh Dam project was due to be completed in 1993, but constant delay inconstruction has already cost the country $288 billion, which is a heftysum considering the debt-ridden state of the economy.

In January, LCCI stated this mega project should not be sacrificed topolitics as it has to play a major role in the economic uplift of thecountry.

They said that the dam will store 6 millions acre-feet of water and willgive benefit of $12 billion annually to the economy