Ali Zafar discusses water situation, challenges with experts

ISLAMABAD, June 11 (APP):Minister for Water Resources Syed Ali Zafar Monday held a meeting with water experts of the Ministry of Water Resources, which was also attended by professionals from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the overall water situation in the country and
deliberate upon the challenges and the opportunities in the sector, a press release said.
Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Shamail Ahmad Khawaja briefed the minster on the
agenda items.
The minister was apprised about creation of a dedicated Ministry of Water Resources in August 2017. The secretary explained that after its creation – despite shortage of resources – the ministry in a relatively a short time, had been successful in evolving consensus among all the federating units to sign the country’s first ever National Water Policy in April 2018 at the forum of Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The said policy remained in making for last twenty-nine years. While introducing the salient
features of the policy, the secretary informed about the strategic priorities, specific targets and the investment plan provided in the policy for the period up to 2030.
He explained that one of the important policy action given in the policy pertains to fixing at least 10 percent of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation for the water sector starting from 2018-19 followed by a gradual increase by 2030 to make the water sector allocations up to 20
percent of the size of the PSDP.
He also informed that in order to ensure the water security in the country, construction of large medium and small dams/reservoirs had also been added in the policy with a specific mention of construction of Diamer-Basha Dam and Mohmand Dam projects.
“More importantly, to ensure the continuity of development in water sector, the ministry also endeavoured to develop a consensus of all the Chief Minsters of the four provinces and the Prime Minister to sign ‘Pakistan’s Water Charter’ that is a call to action and declaration of water emergency,”
it added.
Soon after approval of the policy by the CCI and signing of the Water Charter, Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dam projects have also been got approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) which is a step towards implementation of the policy.
With the completion of these two dams/reservoirs 5,300 MW installed capacity will be added in the national grid as well as 7.1 maf water storage, which will increase the present storage capacity limited
to 36 days to 55 days of average annual surface river flows.
The minister was also briefed that under the National Water Policy an implementation mechanism had been provided in the form of National Water Council chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and represented by all the Chief Ministers of the four provinces, whereas the Chief Minster Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK Prime Minister may be invited as special invitees.
The next tier of implementation is the Policy Steering Committee headed by the Minister for Water Resources to ensure the implementation of the decisions of the National Water Council.
The secretary also informed the minister that the ministry was in process of consultation with the provinces to develop an agenda for calling the first meeting of the National Water Council.
The minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Water Resources and desired to expedite
the actions required for successful implementation of the water policy.