Consensus developed for immediate construction of two new dams, says CJP Nisar

ISLAMABAD - Amid drastic water situation in the country, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said on Saturday that a consensus has been developed for immediate construction of two new dams.

The top judge announced the good news during the hearing of the suo moto case related to waiving of Rs54 billion loans by 222 defaulters during the government of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

He said that the consensus was developed during the key meeting held in the past days, adding that the amount recovered from the defaulters will be used for the construction of the dams.

The chief justice said that some companies expressed willingness to pay the 75 percent of the written-off loan amount, adding that the case of those who do not want to return the amount will be sent to the banking courts.

The defendants in the case will have to deposit the amount of waving off loans to the apex court until the banking courts decide the cases, the top court ordered.

During the hearing, Farooq H Naik, a renowned lawyer, praising the chief justice said: "You will be remembered in the history for all the right reasons".

No any dams or water reservoirs were constructed in Pakistan in the last 40 years; however, the new dams will make the country able to mitigate the growing water shortage.

On June 27, Supreme Court had ordered 222 defaulters to submit 75 percent amount in the loan write-off case.

The chief justice had also made it clear that all the people who got their loans written off illegally on a political basis or otherwise would have to return their loans to the national exchequer.

On the same day, the top judge had held a consultative meeting to evaluate the severity of water shortage and recommend remedial measures where he remarked that the apex court would provide institutional support in this regard.

He had said that no disputed dam would be constructed sans addressing the reservations of all provinces. He had urged experts to share proposals to initiate the construction of dams and reservoirs to encounter the issue of water crises in the country..

The meeting was attended by former Chairman WAPDA Shamas-ul-Mulk, representatives of Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Climate Change, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Flood Commission, National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA), Ministry of Planning and Development and Reform, Pakistan Meterological Corporation Islamabad and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), representatives of Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters, Office of the Chief Engineering Advisor and former secretary Sindh Irrigation Department Khalid Haider Memon, former Member Engineering CDA Shahid Suhail and Researcher engineer Mumtaz Ahmed.