KALABAGH DAM – A POLICY DEBATE

In the year 2014 service sector has the highest contribution in the GDP of Pakistan i.e. 53.1% followed by Agriculture 25.3% and Industrial sector by 21.6%. However, the joint performance of agricultural and industrial sectors directly impacts service sector in order to achieve GDP targets. It is established fact that the economic growth and development of a country has much reliance on electric supply. Pakistan is facing current shortfall of approx. 15000 MW of electricity which is expected to be 35778 MW till to year 2020. It is need of time to reconsider the irrigation policy particularly related to construction of Dams. Kalabagh Dam is a multipurpose project. On one hand it can provide water for agriculture especially in the season of Rabi and Kharif which will irrigate 800,000 acres of land in KPK. It will also helpful to strengthen the small scale industries as it will generate about 3600 MW of electricity. Moreover, it will help in increasing employment opportunities and Pakistan can save huge amount of foreign reserve which is being spent in import of fuel. The paper is divided into three parts first highlighted the issue of water shortfall leads to energy crisis and eventually disturb the industrial development in an agro based economy of Pakistan. Second portion of paper discusses the importance and features of Kalabagh Dam followed by policy debate and political analysis of this project.