Peshawar:
The Federal Minister of Water Resources, Muhammad Moin Wattoo, issued a severe warning against any attempt to disrupt the water supply of Pakistan, describing such actions “an act of war”. He stressed that the government will not tolerate any violation of the country’s water rights.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of phase II of the Mohmand dam, the minister underlined the critical role of water in the survival and progress of Pakistan.
“No one has the right to take our water. Blocking is equivalent to war against us,” said Wattoo firmly.
He referred to the industrial water Treaty, claiming that Pakistan and India are legally required to honor his terms.
“This is a binding agreement with total legal validity. Its suspension or violation will in no case be tolerated,” he warned.
Progress on the Mohmand dam
Wattoo noted that the construction of the Mohmand dam is increasing rapidly and should be completed by 2027 or 2028. However, it assured the public that the government endeavors to finish it before the calendar.
He also praised the contributions of Chinese engineers working on the project.
“It is really commendable that Chinese engineers work day and night to ensure the timely completion of this crucial infrastructure,” he said.
Wattoo reiterated the government’s commitment to allocate all the available resources to quickly guarantee the completion of the dam.
Economic and environmental impact
Once operational, the Mohmand dam will generate 800 megawatts of clean and affordable hydroelectricity and will bring thousands of acres of land under irrigation. It should considerably improve the local economy by creating jobs and stimulating agricultural productivity.
WAPDA president, LT Gen (Retd.) Sajjad Ghani, was also present at the ceremony.
Located on the Swat river in the Mohmand district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the dam is about to be the fifth largest concrete concrete dam (CFRD) in the world, 213 meters high. It will have a storage capacity of 1.29 million acres, with 18,233 acres of new land in the districts of Mohmand and Charsadda, while supporting irrigation for 160,000 acres of existing agricultural land.
