Dam fund campaign passion similar to 1965 war: CJP

MANCHESTER: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday night said all Pakistanis are exuberantly contributing funds for the construction of dams and he only witnessed similar passion during the 1965 war.

“All Pakistanis are very exuberant and contributing with passion,” Justice Nisar said while speaking to Geo News in Manchester after his successful live telethon.

“From a four-year-old to an 84-year-old, the entire country is proactive. This is no ordinary situation and has become a campaign,” he added.

The chief justice continued, “The entire nation is involved and I have never seen such passion before except maybe during the 1965 war. I appreciate the passion.”

Responding to a question regarding his announcement of starting an awareness campaign for family planning from next month in light of a "population blast" happening in the country, the top judge said, “We had created a taskforce for family planning under Health Secretary Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed which comprised experts from all over Pakistan.”

“The taskforce has compiled a report and will hold a conference at the Supreme Court in mid-December (December 12 or 13) which will attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan and me,” he added.

Justice Nisar further stressed that if population growth is not curbed then resources will shrink and disparity will increase. “These are fundamental issues of the country,” he asserted.

The chief justice is currently visiting the United Kingdom to raise funds for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams.