ICOLD members - Pakistan

Comments and observations made by the Pakistan National Committee of ICOLD: to Secretary General ICOLD

1. WCD report has been framed in such a way that it gives an anti developmental affect against all the earlier commitments of World Commission on Dams. Report seems to have no balance between benefits and concerns of the large dams.

WCD has also not fulfilled its mandate as agreed upon in Gland during 1997 for submitting alternatives and development of internationally acceptable criteria, guidelines and standards.

2. Dams have obviously made important and significant contribution for the human development and minus Dams scenario if these were not constructed, has not been reflected in the report.

It is beyond any doubt that humanity would not have been at the present status of development if there were no dams.

3. Most of the dams in every country are built for water supply for drinking purpose and recharge of aquifer in case of hilly areas.

Modern science has no alternate manageable solution to that except to construct the dams.

4. We have serious questions about the relevance of 8 dams selected for the WCD Study out of approximately forty five thousand dams.

Therefore, the WCD recommendations are not globally applicable and may not be really considered by any one including international financial institutions

Illahi B.Shaikh Engineeing Adviser (Civil)

Secretary Pakistan National Committee of I COLD