Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the construction of new dams in Pakistan will proceed with the consensus of all provinces. This decision was made during a meeting focused on water resources and storage held in Islamabad. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Federal Government, provinces, and federal units to ensure the successful development of water reservoirs.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister expressed concerns over India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, describing it as a violation and an act of water aggression. He assured that Pakistan would respond to this aggression in line with the decisions made by the National Security Committee earlier this year. During the meeting, leaders from all provinces, including the Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, condemned India’s actions and promised support to the Federal Government.

The meeting resulted in the formation of a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, tasked with overseeing the construction and funding strategies for new water reservoirs. This committee includes representatives from all provinces, federal ministers, and will report its findings to the Prime Minister within 72 hours.

Attendees were briefed on ongoing water projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam, expected to be completed by 2032 and 2027, respectively. Currently, Pakistan has eleven dams with a combined storage capacity of 15.318 million acre-feet. Under national development programs, 32 dams are under construction, with 79 more in the planning stages.

The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and several federal and provincial ministers. The active participation of these leaders underscores the commitment to achieving water security in Pakistan.