Call for Dam Construction
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has underlined the urgent need for dam construction across Pakistan, arguing that decades of inaction have left the country vulnerable to devastating floods and chronic power shortages.
Speaking to reporters along the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, the governor said, “If dams had been built in the past, we would not only have been spared from such large-scale flood destruction but would also have had access to affordable electricity.”
His remarks come as Pakistan faces one of the most challenging flood situations in decades, reviving a long-running debate over water management, infrastructure, and energy policy.
A Missed Opportunity
Governor Khan expressed regret that successive governments had failed to prioritise dam construction despite repeated warnings from experts. He called it a matter of “national misfortune” that political indecision and delays had left the country without sufficient water reservoirs.
Currently, a handful of large and small dams are under construction, including the long-delayed Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, progress has been slow due to financial constraints, political disputes, and logistical hurdles.
He urged the federal and provincial governments to treat dam projects as a national emergency, reallocating budget resources on a priority basis. “It is our failure that we have not treated this as a serious issue,” he said.
Floods Every Few Years
Pakistan regularly experiences destructive flooding, often triggered by heavy monsoon rains and glacial melt. In recent weeks, deadly floods have devastated Punjab, submerging more than 70 villages and prompting army-led rescue operations.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the 2022 floods affected more than 33 million people, caused over 1,700 deaths, and inflicted an estimated $30 billion in damages.
Governor Khan noted that the current flooding is the worst in 30 years. He stressed that dams could mitigate such disasters by storing excess water during heavy rains and releasing it gradually, while also supporting irrigation for agriculture.
Energy Crisis and Hydropower
Beyond flood protection, dams also hold the key to addressing Pakistan’s chronic energy crisis. The country remains heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, which strain its foreign reserves and drive up electricity prices.
Hydropower, however, remains an underutilised resource. According to the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the country has a hydropower potential of over 60,000 megawatts, yet only around 10,000 megawatts have been developed.
Governor Khan argued that accelerating dam construction would provide cleaner and cheaper electricity, reduce dependence on imports, and ease the financial burden on ordinary citizens.
Relief Efforts Under Scrutiny
Turning to the current flood response, the governor warned that relief efforts must not lag. Referring to the town of Jassar near the Ravi River, he said that if no relief camp had been established there, immediate action must be taken.
He added that all government agencies were on high alert and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initiatives to provide assistance had been welcomed by the public.
Long-Term Solutions Needed
Experts have long stressed that Pakistan’s water management strategy needs both short-term and long-term reforms. Short-term measures include early warning systems, efficient evacuation plans, and well-resourced relief operations. Long-term solutions involve building large reservoirs, modernising irrigation systems, and improving inter-provincial water agreements.
Governor Khan’s comments reflect a growing recognition among policymakers that without structural investments, the cycle of floods and energy shortages will continue.
As climate change intensifies rainfall patterns and accelerates glacier melt in the Himalayas, the urgency of these measures has never been greater.
