PML-N Lawmaker calls for small dams, water reform

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jun, 2026) Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Raja Khurram Shahzad on Wednesday called for the construction of small dams and improved water supply systems to ensure a long-term supply of clean drinking water.

Speaking during the general debate on the Federal budget 2026–27, he warned of a possible future water crisis in Islamabad, saying the capital could face even more severe shortages than other major cities without timely planning.

He highlighted deep inequalities in Islamabad’s education system, saying elite schools in developed sectors serve privileged groups while around 65 percent of residents live in areas where schools lack teachers and basic facilities.

He urged better use of existing public schools instead of relying only on new construction, along with improved infrastructure, trained teachers, and early introduction of modern subjects like artificial intelligence.

He also pointed to uneven development in the capital, saying basic services remain limited in many areas despite modern facilities in elite sectors.

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He called for balanced development to make Islamabad a model city.

On health, he said major hospitals such as PIMS and Polyclinic are under heavy pressure, treating patients from across northern Pakistan. While noting steps like telemedicine and basic health units, he stressed the need for new hospitals, citing delays in projects such as Trillai Hospital.

He raised concerns over unemployment among Islamabad’s youth and suggested a quota for local candidates in federal government jobs.

He also demanded a separate legislative assembly for Islamabad to address governance issues more effectively.

Praising the country’s leadership, he said Pakistan had helped prevent a major global conflict and gained international recognition as a force for peace. He commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for strengthening Pakistan’s global image and stability.

APP/zah-man