Work on Diamer Bhasha dam to begin on 18th: Prime Minister

In a bid to defuse opposition criticism over power crisis, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday announced that foundation stone of Diamer Bhasha dam will be laid on October 18. The announcement by prime minister in the National Assembly came at a time when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was demanding his resignation following the Supreme Court verdict on Karachi unrest.
"After apex court verdict, it has been crystal clear that the chief executive has no other option but to quit", said PML-N lawmaker Zahid Hamid, while speaking on a point of order, adding Supreme Court has clearly stated that it was failure of federal and provincial governments to abide by their constitutional duties in bringing peace to the country's financial hub.
Responding to points of order of the members, Prime Minister Gilani, however, did not commented on the apex court verdict and the demand by the PML-N lawmaker but turned the attention of the house towards mega power projects, including Diamer Basha, Neelum Jhelum, Mangla Upraising and Thar Coal, which he said would overcome power crisis in the country after completion.
Referring to Diamer Basha dam, he said that the foundation stone of the mega project would be laid on the 18th of this month, for which, he said every effort has been made to develop consensus. Unlike Kalabagh Dam, he said that the project was also approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI), so that nobody could politicise it. Gilani said that his government has started and will complete a 'historic' mega projects.
To a point raised by PML-Q's lawmaker Amir Muqam about the suspension of work on Lowari Tunnel project, the Prime Minister said that project was started by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said he has already announced Rs 2 billion for resumption of work and project completion, adding that he had also chaired two meetings on the progress of the project.
Earlier, the uneasy Federal Minister for Production Amir Muqam denounced stoppage of work on Lowari Tunnel saying the locals of Chitral were protesting and demanding completion of the project, which was started at a cost of Rs 8 billion. "Don't try to hush up us (PML-Q members) like our leadership", Muqam said, adding that they were sent to the parliament by their voters to raise their miseries.
Meanwhile, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar informed the House that the government would also explore alternative sources of energy besides conventional sources to enhance power production and overcome the crisis in the country. "We will encourage those solutions, which are cost-effective", he added. He also underscored the need for devising a strategy for installing regular electricity meters in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), adding that all the charges received by the local administration other than the meters were illegal.
The minister was referring to a point raised by Hamidullah Jan Afridi from FATA, who dispelled the impression that people of FATA were not paying electricity bills. Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah moved a motion seeking to continue the on-going debate of the House on energy crisis, loadshedding, price hike in petroleum products and dengue fever on Monday, which was approved unanimously.