Pakistan Lawmakers Call for National Dam Policy Amid Flood Crisis
Islamabad, September 2, 2025 –
Lawmakers from across political lines in Pakistan’s National Assembly have called for urgent action on water storage and dam construction as the country faces devastating floods.
PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan stressed the need for a national policy on water reservoirs and dams, urging the government to accelerate work on projects like the Mohmand Dam. He highlighted that recurring floods in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and other regions could be mitigated through comprehensive water management strategies.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also urged the construction of both large and small dams, emphasizing that the issue should remain above politics. He described recent floods in Punjab and KP as “man-made disasters” caused by riverbed encroachments and urban development on waterways, warning that political inaction has worsened the situation.
The National Assembly suspended its usual agenda to discuss flood relief and called for a unified national response to protect lives and property. Asif highlighted the importance of starting smaller dams immediately, while Ali Muhammad Khan proposed a dedicated parliamentary session to craft a long-term water storage policy.
Other lawmakers, including PPP’s Naveed Qamar, stressed enforcement against deforestation and river encroachments and highlighted the growing impacts of climate change on glacial melt and flooding.
The consensus among legislators was clear: flood preparedness and water management must be prioritized above political differences to safeguard Pakistan’s future generations.
