PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moin Wattoo on Sunday inaugurated *Phase-II of the Mohmand Dam Project, issuing a strong warning against any attempt to disrupt Pakistan’s water supply, calling such actions an *”act of war.”**
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Wattoo stressed the strategic and existential importance of water for Pakistan, warning that any violation of the country’s water rights will provoke a firm response.
“No one has the right to take our water. Blocking it is equivalent to waging war against us,” he stated.
Referencing the *Indus Waters Treaty, Wattoo reiterated that both *Pakistan and India are legally obligated to adhere to the agreement. “It is a binding international treaty. Its violation will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he warned.
Progress on Mohmand Dam
The minister announced that construction of the Mohmand Dam is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by *2027 or 2028, although the government is striving for **early completion. He lauded the efforts of *Chinese engineers working diligently on the project.
“Chinese engineers working day and night deserve special praise for their dedication to this vital infrastructure,” he remarked.
Wattoo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to allocating all necessary resources to ensure the timely execution of the dam.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Once completed, the Mohmand Dam will generate 800 megawatts of clean, affordable hydropower and will irrigate thousands of acres of land, significantly boosting agricultural productivity and local livelihoods.
WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd.) Sajjad Ghani was also present at the event. The dam, located on the *Swat River in Mohmand District, is set to become the *fifth-largest Concrete Face Rock-Filled Dam (CFRD) in the world, with a height of 213 meters and a storage capacity of 1.29 million acre-feet.
The project will bring 18,233 acres of new land in Mohmand and Charsadda under cultivation and enhance irrigation for an additional 160,000 acres — marking a major step towards food and water security in the region.
Story by Wisal Yousufzai
