Flooding calamity in Pakistan rekindles debate over the delayed construction of the Kalabagh Dam project

The Kalabagh Dam, a proposed project on the Indus River in Pakistan's Mianwali district, has once again become a subject of debate. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has called for its construction, reigniting a long-standing water dispute in the country.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which rules KP, has distanced itself from Gandapur's comments, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh, has stated the dam is unacceptable. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) also supports the construction of the dam, along with the PTI.

The Kalabagh Dam, designed to generate 3,600 megawatts of electricity, irrigate farmland, and store water to manage floods, has never moved forward due to opposition from Sindh and KP. Leaders from these provinces fear the dam would divert water southward, submerge districts, and displace thousands of families.

Dr. Hassan Abbas, a hydrology specialist, points out that the Himalayan glaciers feeding the Indus ensure massive seasonal flows regardless of dam infrastructure. He also states that flood control dams like Kalabagh are left empty to break flood waves, an "old technique."

Independent experts consider the Kalabagh project outdated in the face of climate change. They suggest that what Pakistan needs is not a single mega-dam, but a modern mindset that adapts to climate change by recharging groundwater, strengthening defenses, and living with floods rather than trying to block them.

Saira Rehman, an environmental planner, supports this view, suggesting that Pakistan needs zoning to stop construction on floodplains, stronger embankments, and restoring wetlands that absorb excess water. Other specialists argue that Pakistan's flood challenges are rooted in poor planning and weak adaptation, not in storage capacity.

Official reports prepared by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) have sought to dismiss objections to the Kalabagh Dam as misconceptions, citing engineering studies and data to support their claims. The report argues that concerns over flooding in Nowshera and drainage problems in Mardan, Pabbi, and Swabi are unfounded. It also downplays displacement risks, stating only about 14,500 of KP's potentially affected residents would need relocation.

However, Muhammad Abdullah Deol, a flood-risk management scientist, warns that Kalabagh's storage capacity would be insufficient compared to the Indus River's flow, potentially increasing destructive downstream releases. Nadeem Afzal Chan, information secretary of the PPP, has stated that a consensus on the Kalabagh Dam is necessary before any action can be taken, as there are provincial resolutions against the project.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the only major party currently backing the plan for the Kalabagh Dam. Sardar Hussain Babak, an ANP leader, has rejected Gandapur's statement, warning that the Kalabagh Dam would submerge the Peshawar valley.

The report further notes that fish populations in Sindh have grown despite other major dams on the Indus, suggesting that the Kalabagh Dam would not devastate aquatic life. Glacier melting will cause water to flow into the Arabian Sea, according to Dr. Abbas.

Experts emphasize that what Pakistan needs is not a single mega-dam, but a modern approach that adapts to climate change, rather than relying on outdated techniques like the Kalabagh Dam.

Flooding calamity in Pakistan rekindles debate over the delayed construction of the Kalabagh Dam project