This refers to a statement carried by a newspaper of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer who has defied the party line on controversial Kalabagh Dam (October 06). He also claimed: "Pakistan is heading to become Somalia in the next 10 years if we do not start the construction of Kalabagh dam now."
I want to point out that at present, one-third of Sindh (area-wise) has already been turned into Somalia as its 2.7 million people, living in area between Kotri and Arabian Sea, are already facing acute shortage of even drinking water, whereas Indus delta - the sixth largest in the world is already facing unnatural sad demise resulting in mass migration of one million people, tremendous increase in poverty and unemployment, ruination of fauna and flora, intrusion of sea inundating 2.7 million acres of valuable land besides environmental hazards in Sindh.
If Taseer wants to see Somalia in Pakistan, he should visit Indus delta and see for himself the ruination there of non-implementing "Water Accord, 1991" by not releasing at least 10 MAF water downstream Kotri even after 19 years signing the accord. If Kalabagh Dam is built, perhaps, whole Sindh would completely be turned into Somalia. Perhaps, people like Taseer want to see this. I advise Taseer if he is so anxious to see KBD built, he should resign from the constitutional post of governor and also PPP and only then may launch pro-KBD campaign.