South Waziristan Lower: Residents of the area have staged protests against the prolonged delay in the completion of the Shakai Dand Dam project, which has remained under construction since 2014.

According to local residents, only around 48 percent of the project has been completed so far, while the remaining work remains unfinished despite the passage of more than a decade. Community leaders and social activists claim that work on the dam has been repeatedly delayed even though funds have reportedly been allocated for the project.

Local stakeholders have expressed concerns over what they describe as a lack of coordination between the provincial government and the contractor. They allege that while the government maintains that funds have been released, the contractor continues to cite financial constraints as the reason for the delay.

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Residents also voiced disappointment over the apparent inability of the area's elected representatives, including the Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), to ensure the project's timely completion.

The Shakai Dand Dam Committee stated that the project has the potential to transform the region’s agricultural sector, bring millions of acres of land under cultivation, and promote tourism in the area. Committee members warned that the continued delay is depriving local communities of significant economic and development opportunities.

The project was originally scheduled for completion within three years. However, despite several revisions and increases in funding, it remains incomplete in 2026. Residents allege that the contractor has repeatedly offered excuses for the delays, misleading both authorities and the public.

Declaring that their patience has run out, local residents have appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Chief of Army Staff, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Chief Minister of the province to take immediate notice of the issue and ensure practical steps are taken for the project's completion.

Residents have demanded that construction work resume without further delay, warning that they will announce a more vigorous protest movement if their concerns continue to be ignored.