Daily Times

“The empire is in utter confusion, sagehood and excellence are not clarified, we do not have the one Way and Power…these are men each of whom has his own little corner.” (The Zhuangi Ch. 33).

Pakistan finds itself in somewhat similar confusion when it comes to decide on national issues. The Diamer Bhasha Dam (DBD) project “most critical for food security in Pakistan, was a high priority project for Pakistan.” It experienced decades of delay owing to lack of political will and conspiracies crafted by enemy’s false propaganda. The construction was originally scheduled for completion in 2016 and then in 2019. But work never progressed, as a result the cost is going up due to persistent hinderances in starting the project.

In 2006, the President of Pakistan announced to construct 5 multi-purpose water storages over the next 10 -12 years. The Diamer Basha Dam Project, on the river Indus, was expected to be undertaken in the first phase. It was announced as the world’s highest Roller Compacted Concrete Dam. The foundation stone for the 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha Dam was laid in Oct 2011. Country’s third largest reservoir with a storage capacity of about 8 million acre feet (MAF) at an stimated cost around $12billion was expected to complete within next eight years.

During Pervez Musharraf tenure, DBD was a priority in two planning documents, Musharraf’s Water Vision 2020 and Wapda’s Vision 2025. Musharraf tried to convince the politicians but failed. The partners of coalition regime PPP, ANP, PML (N), and JUI (F) opposed building of large dams, under the banner of Anti- Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam Action Committee. An alliance of 16 political parties joined on one-point agenda “No further cut on Indus.” Bhasha dam was opposed by downstream Sindh and simultaneously people in Gilgit as they fear it would affect the social, economic and ecological balance in the region.

With a struggling economy, Pakistan knocked on the doors of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and Western allies for financial help. Most of these efforts failed to make any headways in arranging finances for the mega project, authorities decided to defer its construction at a time when Pakistan entered an acute level of water scarcity.

It was China’s Belt and Road Initiative under concept of “Community of shared Dreams” that turned Diamer Bhasha Dam into a tangible reality. It was decided in Pakistan-China Joint Economic Group (JEWG) meeting in Beijing that two countries should speed up investment in energy. China stepped up its involvement in a number of projects, signing deals to upgrade the Karakoram Highway and build roads.

China’s accelerated involvement in energy and infrastructure projects raised concerns among India and US. Since China-Pakistan Economic Corridor launch, there has been cynical scrutiny of the project. The United States has led in the criticism, cautioning that CPEC projects would subject Pakistan to expensive loans. But supporters of the project maintain that CPEC is Pakistan’s best shot at economic development and apparently it seems like Pakistan needs China more than China needs Pakistan.

Pakistan is trying to take measures to revive the productive sector and it is only possible if it focuses on construction of multiple dams to tackle energy and water needs on time

The propaganda of debt trap with reference to CPEC, serves only to create an environment of distrust and chao. In past, Pakistan has dealt with IMF, WB & ADB debt traps in the form of high inflation, drop in production sector and forced policies dictated by International Financial Institutions.

What we must keep in mind is that unlike western capitalistic objectivism philosophy of Ayn Rand, what China offers today in the shape of the Belt and Road Initiative is based on Confucian belief of “Xiushen” that a cultivated person is one who could legitimately lead the people. Xiushen is development of commitment to benefit the world. It focuses on collective interests rather than Individual interests.

Countries can only grow by keeping pace with Industrialization, agricultural development and technological realities of modern times. If there is no focus on productive sector, they lag behind. Pakistan is trying to take measures to revive the productive sector and it is only possible if it focuses on construction of multiple dams to tackle energy and water needs on time. Therefore, initiating construction work on three important hydro projects, Diamer Bhasha Dam, Dasu hydropower project and Sindh barrage were most needed steps.

After a gap of forty years, PM Imran Khan directed an immediate execution of the DBD project. The Chinese firm is executing the project in joint venture with Frontier Works Organization. The Chinese state run firm holds 70% whereas FWO has 30% share in the consortium. The dam project with a total financial outlay of Rs 1406.5 billion would be completed in 2028. The project would have a gross storage capacity of 8.1 eight million-acre feet and power generation of 4500MW. with an annual generation of 18.1 billion units.

Though government acknowledges failures to execute construction of the project on time. It is yet to be seen how serious they are in providing a speedy work environment. Biggest looming danger is of the growing threat of militants targeting Chinese interests and workers. India’s diplomatic opposition against the project is also a major concern. Moreover, what steps government ensures to satisfy grievances of the indigenous people of Gilgit Baltistan would direct the pace for the completion of the project.

Special Advisor (Pakistan Institute of Management, Lahore operated under Federal Ministry of Industries and Production, Islamabad) and Foreign Research Associate (Centre of Excellence, China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Islamabad)