After all their concerns were addressed, the provinces accorded approval to submit the 10-year national flood protection plan (NFPP-IV) before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for formal approval in its next meeting.
A consultative meeting on the NFPP-IV (2015-16 to 2024-25) was held at the ministry of water and power. The meeting was held on instructions of the CCI to address reservations of the provinces on proposed 10-year plan.
The meeting was chaired by Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif and attended by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid. Provincial Irrigation Ministers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab and concerned officials from other provinces participated in the meeting.
The meeting was apprised that total financial outlay of the plan was 1,77,661 million rupees for 10 years. The meeting approved the plan and decided that the financial aspects relating to the execution of the plan would be decided by the CCI where all the provinces were represented. It was decided that a steering committee will be formed at the federal government level with representation of all stakeholders while a third party evaluation mechanism will also be put in place.
Khawaja Asif, while welcoming the chief minister and other participants, said it was need of the hour to bring about a consensus based national plan for flood protection. He appreciated the spirit displayed by all the federating units and territories during the preparatory meetings for arriving at a consensus document.
The minister said that due to global climate change and its particular impact on Pakistan in recent years, the frequency and intensity of floods and corresponding damages had increased manifold, making it imperative to have an integrated and innovative approach to flood protection. He also welcomed proposals for improvement in the flood plan.
The meeting was briefed by the chairman federal flood commission on different aspects of the plan. He informed that floods were the most devastating natural disasters and were generally caused by heavy concentrated rainfall in the catchments during the monsoon season (July through September). During the past six years, overall damages due to floods are almost equal to total flood damages in preceding 60 years.
In view of increasing flood damages, the ministry of water and power through federal flood commission (FFC) formulated 10 years plan through World Bank funding. Internationally renowned experts in water resources and flood management, “The Deltares” of Netherlands along with (NESPAK) were engaged in this regard.
The meeting was informed that an integrated country-wide flood management exercise was conducted during 2011-13 to prepare the plan which envisages reduction in damages through flood plain mapping and significant improvement in relief and rescue operations. It also aims at flood reduction through watershed management and reduction in flash flooding through management of hill torrents. The plan affords flexibility in provincial priorities during the 10 years period. Different suggestions by the provincial governments and ministry of climate change were duly incorporated in the plan. The meeting, while approving the plan, recommended it to be placed before the CCI for formal approval and adoption in its next meeting.
