He said that as per media reports the Asian Development Bank (ADB) reportedly had reflected that Rental Power Projects (RPPs) would increase the power tariff up to 45 percent in the country.
Addressing a press conference here, he urged the government to initiate consultation process with all political parties of the four provinces so that their reservations over Kala Bagh dam could be removed and dams could be constructed with a consensus. He regretted that the country had not constructed a single dam since 1970 and all successive governments were equally responsible for the water crisis.
Saifullah said that if the government failed in constructing big dams in the country it would not only make electricity a dream for the general public, but such high cost power would destroy Pakistan's industrial sector and our exports would become zero. Dams and only dams are need of the hour and Kala Bagh dam should have been completed in 1980s during Zia regime, the construction of Kala Bagh dam could have brought about an industrial boom in the country while the Pakistan's agricultural sector could also have been fortified.
He said that some political forces dancing on the tunes of India had started conspiracy against the construction of Kala Bagh dam otherwise the Pakistan people would have been one of the most prosperous nations of the world. Saifullah Khan expressed grave concern over the deteriorating water and power crisis in the country, saying that if immediate steps were not taken to construct new dams, the industrial and agriculture sectors would suffer the most.
Saifullah said that Kurram Tungi Dam project was in the doldrums since past so many years, and due to the scarcity of water reservoirs, more than 300,000 acres of agriculture land had turned barren only in North Waziristan, he added. Similarly, Kabul Khel, a major tribe of the North Waziristan, was discouraged and now they were opposing the dam project because the unnecessary delay was costing them a lot as their roads, schools and other institutions were not being constructed on the pretext of the dam project.
He urged the media to highlight the water scarcity issue and develop consensus among the people over the construction of dams in the country especially, of Kurram Tungi Dam. He said the North Waziristan Agency also had rich mineral assets and massive reservoirs of oil and gas were yet to be explored in the area due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
While talking about the importance of constructing mage water reservoirs in the country, Saifullah said that he had also requested the tribal elders of the Kabul Khel to allow the construction of Dam in their area, besides gas and oil exploration in their area, which would be beneficial for the locals. He said the tribal Jirga had promised him to consult with other elders and after the consultation; exploration process would be launched in the area.
On a question he said that he and his colleagues had parted ways with Chaudhry's of Gujrat over a principled stand and if Chaudhry Shujaat is going to resign from the party leadership, besides holding fresh party election (like-minded) group is ready for reunification.
Neither had we formed our party to facilitate General Musharraf nor do we intend to join any other political party. Even if Chaudhry Shujaat steps down and a consensus president of the PML is elected in line with party constitution, we are ready to unify both the PML-Q factions, he added.
The 10-member delegation of North Waziristan Jirga comprised Maulana Gul Ramzan, Mufti Mahmud-ul-Hasan, Maulana Salim Margal, Malik Qismat Khan, Malik Sher Muhammad, Malik Gul Naeem Wazir, Engr Rehmatullah, Shah Jehan Shah and Nazim of Kabul Khel Umer Nawaz. President North Waziristan Nasir Nawaz was also present on the occasion.