ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the overseas Pakistanis to donate generously for construction of dams in Pakistan to avert the looming water crisis, ARY News reported.
In a video message, the PM urged the Pakistanis working abroad to donate at least 1000 dollars to the dam fund so that the water reservoirs could be constructed within time and within the estimated cost.
“Our debt today stands at 30,000 billion. But one of our biggest issues today is the looming water crisis. When Pakistan was created; every Pakistani had 5600 cubic-metres of water. Today that stands at only 1000 cubic-metres,” said the PM.
He was of the view that delaying such projects increases the cost so his government wants to build water reservoirs on time.
” Overseas Pakistanis helped me build Shaukat Khanum and Namal university, I am appealing to you to help us build this dam,” said Imran Khan.
The PM, while thanking Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar for taking the initiative, announced the merger of CJP and PM’s dam fund.
“I want to appreciate chief justice’s efforts. It was not his job but he had to fill the void left by political leadership, now we have decided to launch and join the PM fund with the CJP’s fund which currently has Rs1800 million ” said the PM.
About the dam fund
The Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand dam fund 2018 was established by the federal government in pursuance of a Supreme Court order for raising funds for the construction of the two dams.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar was the first to donate money for the fund as on July 5, he deposited Rs1Million as donation in the account titled “DIAMER BASHA AND MOHMAND DAM FUND–2018′.
Payments in to the fund bearing account No.03-593-299999-001-4 and IBN No.PK06SBPP0035932999990014 will be received at all branches of the State Bank of Pakistan, all treasuries and branches of National Bank of Pakistan and all other scheduled banks.
The fund, which was merged with PM’s fund today by PM Imran Khan, can receive donations and contributions from both domestic and international donors, individuals and companies, and the general public has been requested to contribute generously.
