Pakistani dam proposal meets fierce opposition
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is trying to rally support for the construction of a controversial dam he says is vital for long-term prosperity but even some of his staunchest allies are vehemently opposed.
Water has long been a sensitive and divisive issue in drought-prone Pakistan and Musharraf is facing opposition from downstream of the proposed dam on the Indus River, where people fear it will rob them of their fair share of water.
The dispute over the Kalabagh dam has produced rare cracks in Musharraf's ruling coalition but the president is determined to muster support to begin construction.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "Dams are very crucial for the economic development of the country. We are trying to build national understanding on this," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Reuters over the weekend.
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