KP CM Gandapur Backs Kalabagh Dam

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday expressed support for the construction of the long-disputed Kalabagh Dam, but stressed that it should move forward only after addressing the concerns of all stakeholders.

Speaking to reporters, Gandapur rejected claims that the project would submerge Nowshera, a key argument long raised by nationalist parties in KP and Sindh against the dam. “We cannot damage Pakistan for the sake of pursuing provincialism,” the PTI leader said.

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His remarks mark a major shift, as opposition to Kalabagh Dam originally stemmed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before spreading to Sindh, where parties like the PPP continue to resist large water projects.

The statement also comes at a politically sensitive time, with PTI fractured in the wake of Imran Khan’s incarceration. Analysts note that any concession on Kalabagh Dam could affect PTI’s standing in KP, where it has positioned itself as a defender of provincial rights after eroding the ANP’s influence.

The debate over water reservoirs has resurfaced after the latest high floods in the Sutlej River. While the Indus has historically caused devastating floods, including in 1992 and 2010, recent inundations have largely been caused by the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab.