Addressing the nation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan is going through a crisis. Pakistan has a debt of 30 thousand billion. He said that the construction of the dam should be started immediately to deal with the water crisis. He called for every possible help, and promised that his money would not be misused. Imran said that after assuming office, he is taking frequent representations on the problems and plans of the country. We are continuously discussing issues related to debt, electricity, gas issues and foreign affairs.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s message to the nation.
I am here to inform you and tell you about all the issues we face as a nation. I am taking presentations on every issue of the country. There is no doubt today that we are at a crisis situation. #PrimeMinisterIK— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
He said that 10 years ago Pakistan’s debt was 6 thousand billion rupees, which now rises to 30 thousand billion. This is why we have to struggle a lot. Water problem in the country is the biggest and most important problem. At the time of Pakistan’s independence, every Pak citizen came in 5,600 cubic meters in the part of the country, while today it has dropped to 1,000 cubic meters.
Our debt today stands at 30,000 billion. But one of our biggest issues to date is the water issue. When Pakistan was made; every pakistani had 5600 cubic metres of water. Today that stands at only 1000 cubic metres. –@ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
To overcome the shortage of water, Imran said that the water problem in Pakistan has become disturbed. Today our water storage capacity is only 30 days, whereas in India there is 190 days. This means that the construction of the dam has become very important for the country, if we do not build a dam then the situation will get very bad in the coming years. If the dams are not built now, then in the next 7 years i.e. in 2025, the situation will be very frightening. He said that if there is no water then there will be problems in cultivating.
We have storage capacity of only 30 days for water; whereas the safe period for water storage is 120 days. India has capacity of 90 days. This is why making the dam for us is so important. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
In his 8-minute speech, Imran said that this situation was not born suddenly. In the last 30 years the situation has been very bad, the previous leaders should have thought about it. The initiative taken by the Chief Justice on this matter is commendable . I will collect the Chief Justice and the Prime Minister’s fund. The Chief Justice has collected 180 crores in the fund.
I want to commend the Chief Justice for taking the step. It was not his job to do; it was upto the political leadership to do it. We are deciding to launch and join the PM fund with the CJ fund. They have raised 180 crores so far. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
I request every Pakistani living in the every corner of world to help in the construction of the dam (Diamar Baasha and Mohammad Dam) in Pakistan. Also, people living in Pakistan should also come forward for help. He said that if an average 80-90 lakh Pakistani-origin people of Pakistan will send an average of $1000 dollars, then there will be no shortage of any kind.
There are 80-90 Lakhs overseas Pakistanis. If each one of you send 1000 dollars, we will have money to build this dam, and we will have dollars to bring into Pakistan to fix our reserves so we do not need to take any loans. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterImranKhan #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
Not every overseas pakistani can send 1000 dollars. But whatever you can send, please send it forward in whatever capacity you can. This dam is the most important initiative in recent pakistani history. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
We will not have to take any loan from anyone. When money comes with the help of settled people, we will build the dam in just 5 years. Those who can not send $ 1,000, send their money as hard as possible. Prime Minister Imran gave example of Egypt thatEgypt built a dam and said that Egypt also did not have the money to build a dam, but Egypt collected money from the people and built the dam.
If every overseas Pakistani takes this responsibility we will be able to build this dam. Because we didn’t have money to make the dam before, the price of building it kept rising over the years. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
Imran also promised people that the money sent to build the dam will be used only for this purpose. There will be no misuse of their money.
No one will come from the outside to help us build this dam. Dams have been crowd funded before. I promise you I will protect your money. – @ImranKhanPTI #PrimeMinisterIK #DonateForDams
— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 7, 2018
Here is the video of Imran khan appealing people fro help: