A fresh debate has erupted in Pakistan over the controversial Kalabagh Dam project after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur voiced strong support for its construction.

Speaking to reporters, Gandapur said the dam should be built for the sake of future generations and national interest, stressing that provincialism should not come at the cost of Pakistan’s development. He maintained that delaying the project due to politics was a grave injustice to the country.

His remarks, however, triggered a split within his own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Party Chairman Barrister Gohar backed the idea, saying dams—big or small, including Kalabagh—should be built with the consensus of all provinces.

On the other hand, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser dismissed Gandapur’s statement as a personal opinion, clarifying it was not party policy. He argued that there was no current need for the Kalabagh Dam and that smaller dams could be prioritized instead, warning against reopening controversial issues.

The comments drew strong criticism from opposition leaders. Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh President Nisar Khuhro reminded that three provincial assemblies—Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—had already passed resolutions against the project. He accused Gandapur of ignoring political history and urged him to think before making such statements.

Awami National Party chief Aimal Wali Khan also lashed out, declaring that the Kalabagh Dam could only be built “over their dead bodies.” He alleged the renewed discussion was an attempt to divert attention from corruption scandals, adding that their opposition was based on WAPDA’s own technical assessments, not emotions.

Kalabagh Dam has remained one of Pakistan’s most divisive water projects, repeatedly igniting political rifts between provinces.