A number of issues are attributed to delays in construction of much needed water reservoirs that could have prevented colossal losses from floods. These include the problematic acquisition of the necessary land or the lack of capacity of executing agencies. However the main hurdle in the progress is stated to be a lack of funds.

As “the federal government bears around Rs716 billion in expenses on behalf of the provinces” Planning Minister Mr Ahsan Iqbal says, “this significantly shrinks our fiscal space. Right now, we are facing a major challenge. Projects like the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, which are vital to our water security, cannot be completed swiftly due to insufficient development”.

Mr Iqbal has called upon the provincial governments to hammer out a formula that eases the federal government’s financial burden and enables it to complete these important projects. Unfortunately, Pakistan has also not been able to secure the required multilateral or bilateral funds for construction of big dams.

According to initial proposals the Diamer Bhasha Dam and Mohmad Dam are included in the projects being finalised to lure United Arab Emirates’ investment. In June, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting where he directed authorities to remove all........

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