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ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the government will address water-related challenges and threats on a priority basis, with a focus on practical, timely and sustainable solutions.
He was chairing the first meeting of the Task Force on National Water Security, directing the formation of a special working group under the Ministry of Water Resources to submit actionable recommendations to the Planning Commission within 15 days, said a news release.
During the meeting, the participants were informed that in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region the rate of snowmelt increased by a record 65 percent during the decade 2011–2020 compared to previous decades, while the Siachen Glacier is melting at a rate of 50 to 60 meters per year. The rate of snowmelt in the Himalayas mountains has reached 30 meters annually.
Addressing the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal expressed serious concern over the alarming impact of climate change on Pakistan’s water resources.
The minister said that climate change had accelerated glacier melting to a dangerous level, noting that since 1960 around 23 percent of glaciers had melted and been destroyed.
He warned that Pakistan was likely to face a serious and long-term water crisis due to climate change if urgent measures were not taken.
Ahsan Iqbal directed the authorities to convene an immediate technical workshop to convert existing water policies into practical and implementable projects. He stressed that the task force should not only diagnose problems but also propose immediate and workable solutions, supported by a clear timetable to deal with the looming water crisis.
Highlighting regional concerns, the minister termed India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty a serious threat to regional peace and Pakistan’s water rights. He said India’s water aggression was aimed at pushing Pakistan into a water crisis, adding that increasing uncertainty in river flows posed a grave threat to the country.
The minister underscored that water conservation was the guarantee of food security and economic stability, adding that water security was not merely a sectoral issue but the foundation of Pakistan’s survival and sovereignty.
He emphasized that coordination between the federal and the provinces on the National Water Policy must be strengthened at all costs.
Ahsan Iqbal pointed out that around 80 percent of Pakistan’s water supply comes from rivers, while rapid population growth has placed immense pressure on limited water resources. He said that due to population increase and climate change, the financial model of water management was being updated to ensure sustainability.
He also lamented that precious freshwater was being wasted through pollution of rivers and unchecked flows into the sea. Referring to the government’s “5 Es” framework, he said water conservation was a key pillar of the national development agenda and called for closer collaboration between universities and water experts to plan effective conservation strategies.
The minister said the task force would play a pivotal role in recommending effective solutions to Pakistan’s water challenges, stressing that the construction of new dams was the need of the hour. He said projects like Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams would prove to be milestones in enhancing water storage capacity in the country.
Ahsan Iqbal directed Chairman WAPDA, IRSA, the National Flood Commission and all provinces to provide their expert input to the working group.
The meeting was also attended by Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Moeen Wattoo along with senior officials and representatives of relevant departments.