Construction of Kalabagh dam must be the top most priority of the government, therefore its construction should be started immediately to meet the water requirements of the country apart from producing cheaper electricity.
This was demanded by the Chairman Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front (Piaf), Sheikh Muhammad Arshad in a press statement issued here on Saturday.
Arshad was of the view that this project is a must for economic stability of the country, hence the government must get it approved from the parliament at the earliest.
'Almost all former chairmen of Wapda and experts were giving repeated warnings that there was no alternative of Kalabagh dam and any delay in it's construction could create severe problems in future. Government officials also admit importance of this project, while President of Pakistan has declared 2004 as the year for starting Kalabagh dam construction,' he added.
He was of the view that Pakistan was spending huge foreign exchange on import of oil to produce electricity through thermal sources while cheaper electricity could only be produced through hydel sources.
He said that feasibility report, colonies for staff and latest machinery had been installed by spending Rs two billion for this dam while country's agriculture was facing severe water shortage, provinces have problems over distribution of water and input cost of domestic industrial units have increased due to expensive electricity. Nevertheless, Kalabagh dam is essential for bright economic future of the country.