Sherry Rehman Small Dams Not Kalabagh Key to Pakistan Flood Control
Sherry Rehman Urges Small Dams, Sustainable Solutions Over Kalabagh Mega Project
Islamabad – Speaking on the Bakhabar Savera program, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman warned that even if the long-debated Kalabagh Dam were somehow built, it would not stop floods in Pakistan. “Floods will still occur, even if the Kalabagh Dam is constructed,” she said, stressing the need to focus on practical and sustainable solutions instead.
Rehman argued that every time Pakistan faces a severe flood, there is a rush to seek “magic bullet” solutions like massive dams. However, she noted that the era of large-scale dams such as Tarbela and Mangla—built with international financial support—is long over. Both dams now face serious siltation problems due to heavy sediment flows from the Himalayas.
“There is no doubt that we need better water storage, but small, manageable solutions like micro-dams and water-harvesting reservoirs are the way forward,” Rehman added. She suggested creating a network of smaller dams that could absorb water surges and store water without triggering floods. “Water storage is not the same as flood control,” she clarified.
The senator also criticized Pakistan’s “ridiculously low” storage capacity, emphasizing that smaller dams are easier to finance, maintain, and operationalize quickly.
Rehman called for a comprehensive climate-water audit to address the root causes of flooding, including uncontrolled urban development, deforestation, and unsustainable mining in mountain regions. While acknowledging that such measures won’t stop floods entirely, she said they would help reduce the impact, including damage to agriculture.
“The reality is that floods are driven by climate change, deforestation, and unplanned urban expansion. Flooding will continue, but we can manage its impact and protect lives and crops,” she said, urging a reevaluation of agricultural land use to safeguard future food and water security.
She also warned that increasing glacial melt in the country’s mountainous regions—some peaks showing a 16% rise—will likely make floods more frequent and severe.
Rehman criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister for refusing to engage in discussions on flood management, saying his avoidance of meetings and rejection of dam proposals have hindered informed dialogue. “This is no longer a natural calamity; it’s a man-made disaster,” she remarked. “We need long-term planning, not flashy one-off solutions like big dams.”
The PPP senator concluded that instead of pursuing large-scale dams like Kalabagh, Pakistan should adopt a holistic approach focusing on small-scale water storage, climate resilience, and sustainable development to better mitigate the impact of floods.
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