Historical follies

This refers to the article, ‘CPEC: the way forward’ (April 29) by Saleem Safi. The writer’s reference to ‘To undo our historical follies...’ is a wakeup call for those sitting at the helm of our affairs. The Kalabagh Dam is among those historical follies. Just as the CPEC will go a long way in boosting our economy, so too the dam would have proved to be a saviour as far as the present energy crisis is concerned. There are no two opinions about the CPEC as an epic project that can ensure a bright future for us by generating economic activity on an unprecedented scale throughout the region.

The reservations among provinces about this mega project are but a natural phenomenon. The culture of give and take should be promoted among provinces so that a win-win situation can be achieved. All stakeholders should be taken into confidence vis-a-vis different projects along the corridor. A sense of ownership will help materialise the project. Delays can play havoc with this project. We have already borne the brunt of delaying the construction of the Kalabagh Dam in the form of prolonged loadshedding and devastating floods across the country. We cannot afford another folly.

Muhammad Fayyaz

Mianwali