Founders Group of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Monday said that Kalabagh dam, being inevitable for the country's economic development, should be built within the shortest possible time. Group's Head Ijaz Butt told a gathering of businessmen that Pakistan direly needed cheap electricity, water for agriculture sector and end of devastation caused by floods. "This is only possible through big water reservoirs like Kalabagh dam. Pakistan is one of the countries where water and power scarcity have become the burning issue," he opined.
While cheap electricity was necessary to run industries, sufficient water was a must for growth of agriculture sector, he said, adding: "Almost nine million hectors of fertile land remained useless just because of water scarcity." He said Kalabagh dam would also produce 3500MW electricity initially at the rate of less than Rs 2 per unit while this dam can give advantage of around $14 billion annual to the national economy.
Group's leader Mian Muhammad Ashraf said that water resources in Pakistan were depleting rapidly and "we cannot afford to waste huge amount of water to the sea." He said Kalabagh dam was the most feasible project for national economy that could be completed within five years. He said that around $13 billion would be required for construction of Bhasha dam.
Giving example, he said about 150 kilometres area of Karakorum Highway would be reconstructed with the cost of $6 to 7 billion. "Around $3 billion more would be required for transmission line from Bhasha to national grid. As such, over $20 billion would be required for construction of Bhasha dam," he said. "Kalabagh dam is not only beneficial to Punjab alone but it would be more helpful in stamping out poverty from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as it would irrigate 800,000 acres of cultivable land that was located 100-150 feet above the Indus river level in the province. This land could only be brought under cultivation if the river level is raised that is only possible if Kalabagh dam is built," he maintained.