PBIF chief for building new dams

Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) president Mian Zahid Hussain has said that approximately 14 billion gallons of water go waste annually in Pakistan, which can be saved if the storage facility is increased by building new dams.
"It will help Pakistan overcome the water scarcity problem and will help farmers to irrigate their lands on cheaper rates thus benefiting the country and the people associated with agriculture," he said.
Mian Zahid noted that no dam has been constructed after Mangla dam in 1976, while each new dam in a decade has to be built taking the increased water demand in account. He appreciated Chief Justice of Pakistan's measures for banning taxes on mobile recharge and reduction in petroleum prices and now construction of new dams to curtail the water scarcity problems.
"The Chief Justice himself donated rupees one million for dams and requested Pakistanis to donate for this project of national interest," he referred.
PBIF president said water scarcity was increasing in the country because Tarbela and Mangla dams are at dead level and water availed through rains are not only wasted due to lack of dams but also became a reason of flood in the plain areas causing heavy losses to lives and assets. He said construction of new dams in this situation was highly beneficial which would counter the water scarcity and improve the agriculture sector.
"WAPDA sources have disclosed that project colony and model village at Bhasha dam is under construction; however, actual project is yet to begin," he said, adding that height of Bhasha dam would be 272 meter and would have the storage facility of 8 million acre feet and would produce 4500 MW electricity.
Mian Zahid said that Bhasha dam would not irrigate any land directly but ultimately it would benefit the agricultural lands of river Indus. He said Mohmand dam's height would be 700 feet with store capacity of 1.3 million acre feet and would irrigate 17 thousand acres agricultural land and would produce 800 MW of electricity. "Because of ignorance-based narrative against dams, Pakistan is facing water shortage today," he said, urging that there should be no political point scoring on the construction of Bhasha and Mohmand dams and construction work to be started in ongoing fiscal year.