Speaking in a PTV programme, he said the conditions were rapidly moving towards a point wherein the country would be declared as a water scarce state in accordance with international standards.
He said, in 1951 per-capita water availability rate in the country was 5,207 cusecs feet, which now had dropped to 1,126 cusecs, adding if the status-quo was maintained the rate would drop to 1,026 cusecs by year 2010.
If the per-capita water availability rate dropped to 1,000 cusecs or below, the country was internationally deemed to be as water scarce state, he informed.
It would be unfortunate for a country like Pakistan to acquire that status in the presence of abundant water sources, he said.
When Terbela, Mangla and Chashma reservoirs were built, the country's water storage capacity was 18.37 maf, which now had dropped to 13.48 due to silting phenomena, he said.
Similarly, he said the total existing power capacity under the Wapda system was 18,000 mw in which the share of hydel power was only 6,400 mw.
He said in accordance with past 30 years' data, annually an average 35.2 maf water went waste in sea.
According to statistics provided by the Irrigation Department of Sindh from April to October 2005 around 24.4 maf unutilised water had dropped in the sea, he said and added had there been the storage capacity, that water be used to far benefit of farmers in Sindh.
He said that after the construction of Terbela and Mangla dams, share of water for Sindh was enhanced, adding the situation would further improve after construction of Kalabagh dam.
Wapda Chairman said that in the light of experts' reports Kalabagh dam would have no adverse affects on the lives of people in NWFP.
He said the affected people would be settled within a radius of five-kilometer of the site in model villages having all the necessary living facilities. Besides, he said, the affected people would duly be compensated.
To a question, he said that internationally the construction of big dams was preferred over the small ones. Presently 59 big dams were under construction in China, 22 in Turkey, 35 in Japan, 28 in Iran, six in India, he said, adding the situation reflected the international interest in big dams.
To another question, he said the feasibility of Bhasha dam had been completed and a contract of engineering drawing and tender document had also been accorded.
But it would take 36 months to accomplish the engineering drawing and tender document of that project while in the case of Kalabagh dams all such preparations had already been made, he added.
He said about 325-kilometer portion of Karakurram Highway had to be widened and improved to resume construction work on Bhasha dam. Further more, he said 140-km portion of KKHW would submerge on the completion of Bhasaha dam which ought to be lifted up.
He said there would be a need of installing 30-40 km transmission line from Bhasha dam to Havailian to link the generated power with national distribution network. In the light of above facts, Bhasha dam would take a lot of time to become productive, he said, adding the Kalabagh dam was expected to become functional within six years after the start of construction.
However, he said the construction of Kalabagh, Bhasha and other big dams were vital to ensure the progress and prosperity in the country.