PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has termed the construction of the Kalabagh Dam as a project of national interest, saying that if the concerns of Sindh and Balochistan were addressed, a consensus on this long-standing issue is possible.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the chief minister highlighted the potential of the Kalabagh Dam to alleviate Pakistan’s energy crisis and bring transformative improvement in the agricultural sector.
“Kalabagh Dam is a project that could not only help control the energy shortfall but also revolutionise agricultural development,” Gandapur stated. According to a report by private broadcaster Express News, the KP chief minister emphasised that resolving the reservations of the southern provinces was essential to moving forward.
“If the concerns of Sindh and Balochistan can be addressed, passing a resolution in support of Kalabagh Dam from the KP Assembly will not be difficult,” he said.
Gandapur noted that opposition to the dam within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comes primarily from the Awami National Party (ANP), which currently holds only a single seat in the provincial assembly.
Chief Minister Gandapur also addressed the issue of press freedom, expressing the KP government’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression. He rejected any legislation that seeks to suppress the media, declaring such laws unacceptable.
“We fully believe in freedom of expression. Any attempt to silence the media will not be tolerated,” he said, referring to the controversial PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act). Gandapur described PECA as “an assault on media freedom” and stated unequivocally that his government will not allow any action to be taken under this law within the province. “Not a single FIR has been filed under PECA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he clarified.
The KP chief minister also aimed at the Punjab government’s recent ‘Public Awareness Act’, calling it repressive and contrary to Islamic values and basic human rights. “If the caliph of the time could be questioned, why should elected representatives be exempt from criticism?” he questioned.
He reaffirmed the media’s right to question, criticise, and hold public officials accountable, adding that his government welcomes constructive criticism and views it as an opportunity for self-correction. “Even if false accusations are made, we will leave it to God. We will not retaliate or take punitive action,” he assured.
Ali Amin Gandapur concluded by reaffirming his government’s resolve to safeguard press freedom in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under all circumstances, promising a media-friendly environment where independent journalism can thrive.
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