Chinese Offer to Solve Attabad Lake Problem Finally Accepted

With the domestic “experts” failed to solve the problem of Attabad Lake’s impending threat of bursting and subsequent inundation of the surrounding land, the government has finally said “Yes” to a help offer by China. The decision of accepting Chinese help was made at a high level meeting at the presidency as the water levels in the affected area rose to flood nearby villages, forcing more people to vacate their homes.

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Chinese experts had visited the Attabad Lake soon after its formation and later suggested tackling the problem for Pakistan but its offer had been turned down, relying on domestic scientists and engineers. The latter, however, failed to scientifically analyze in detail, let alone solve, the problem. Affected people of the area, who had been forced by the threat of disaster to leave their houses and move to safer places, got angry earlier this month and marched toward the lake while section 144 was enforced in the area to stop any adventurism.

In the latest meeting, held on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, the troika decided to approve Chinese offer of assistance in order to overcome the problem of Attabad Lake’s potential disaster. The decision is said to have been influenced by President Zardari’s recent visit to China earlier this month. The best one can comment on the government’s sensitivity to the issue at this stage is “Better late than never!”