PM Khan warns of drought, urges overseas Pakistanis to contribute to fund

Imran Khan in his second speech to the nation argued overseas Pakistanis to donate funds for building dams in the country. (PTV screen grab)

• PM explained that Pakistan only has the capacity to store water for 30 days
• Experts have warned that if we don’t start building dams now, Pakistan will face a drought by 2025

ISLAMABAD: In his second address to the nation since taking office, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the nation that if dams are not built, Pakistan will face a drought by 2025. He urged overseas Pakistanis to contribute funds toward building dams in the country.
The prime minister said he has been receiving presentations for the last two weeks on the issues of the nation. “I made a promise to my Pakistani citizens that I would bring to light the problems being faced in our country. The biggest problem we are facing today is that of water scarcity,” explain PM Khan in his address.
Narrating facts from his meetings, the PM said that in post-partition, 5,600 cubic meters of water were available to every Pakistani but today that number has decreased to 1,000 cubic meters. “Globally, 120 days worth of water being stored is considered safe, we only have the capacity to store water for 30 days,” warned PM Khan. 
Stressing on the importance of building dams in the country and the failure of doing so being detrimental to our future generations, Khan warned, “We are left with no option but to build dams. Experts have warned that if we don’t start building dams now, seven years from now (by 2025) Pakistan will face a drought.”
Warning the country, and overseas Pakistanis, of the outcome of having no water Khan said, “If we don’t have water we will not be able to grow crops, if we are unable to grow crops we will not have food, there will be a calamity. This is why we have to start making dams from today.”
Khan also lauded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar for his efforts in raising funds for the construction of dams.
“I am appealing to Pakistanis all over the world today, start contributing fund from today for the construction of dams in the country, especially overseas Pakistanis. If each of our 9million overseas citizens contributes $1,000, we will accumulate enough money to construct both the dams and our reserves will also improve.”
“No one will give us loans; we are so deep in debt that we cannot even afford to take loans any longer. We have to construct these dams ourselves. I assure you that I will protect your money.”