ISLAMABAD: The fast aging of Tarbela Dam and its narrowing water storage capacity and the country growing water needs necessitate construction of Kalabagh Dam to cope with multiple challenges the country confronted with.
Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) Chairman Murtaza Mughal said that Tarbela had lost 70 percent of its capacity and it was going complete its age in 2029. On other hand, Kalabagh Dam will have a storage capacity of 6.1 million acre feet minimum and a life span of 450 years, according to an estimate.
The PEW chief said that the KBD was one of the most unfortunate mega project in the history of Pakistan that had suffered setbacks owing to political interference, especially by the politicians of two provinces who continue to oppose it without knowing the benefits and ground realities.
Dr Mughal said that there should be a national debate by politicians, engineers, qualified people and all stakeholders from all the provinces to take a decision about the Kalabagh dam.