The political parties of three provinces oppose the
dam project |
Thousands
have held a rally in Pakistan's North West Frontier province to protest
against the construction of the controversial Kalabagh dam.
The rally in Jehangira town coincided with President Pervez Musharraf's
statement that he will press ahead with the construction of the proposed
dam.
Speaking to newspaper editors in Lahore Mr Musharraf said that the
project was "inevitable for the nation's survival".
Politicians in NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan provinces oppose the dam.
'Greatest loser'
The government says the dam will provide ample water resources for
irrigation and provide hydro-electricity.
But the dam faces toughest opposition from Sindh province which,
according to the protesters, will lose out on the water supply from the
Indus river.
Meanwhile NWFP province says that the construction of the dam will mean
Naushera city will have to be submerged and many other areas in the
province will face regular waterlogging.
Responding to the criticism, Mr Musharraf said that Sindh would be "the
largest beneficiary, and also the greatest loser should this plan be
abandoned".
"I am putting myself in a difficult situation," he added. Only the
province of Punjab supports the Kalabagh dam project.
The BBC's Haroon Rashid says that the presence of the party led by
Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao - the People's Party (Sherpao) -
was seen as a major setback for President Musharraf.
The rally had representatives from the political parties of the three
districts.
