ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday stressed the urgent need to take effective measures at provincial as well as a federal level for not only ensuring optimum utilisation but also for conservation and scientific management of the water resources in order to cater to future needs of a growing population of the country.
PM Abbasi said this while chairing a meeting on draft National Water Policy at Prime Minister’s Office.
Stressing upon the need for putting in a robust framework, the PM observed that freshwater is a finite resource which is progressively becoming scarce. He directed that the draft policy should be shared with provinces for their consideration and early finalisation.
He emphasised that buy-in from the provincial government was essential and therefore directed Planning Commission’s deputy chairman to engage the provincial governments for their consensus before bringing the matter before the Council of Common Interests.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appreciated the efforts of Planning Commission’s deputy chairman and his team for formulating the much-needed policy framework for effective conservation, utilisation and management of existing water resources.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz briefed the meeting on proposed National Water Policy which has been drafted for the purpose of putting in place a policy framework for ensuring effective management and conservation of existing water resources, improving availability, reliability, and quality of fresh water to meet critical municipal, agricultural, energy and food security needs besides addressing the environmental concerns.
The draft policy addresses critical issues of reduction in wastage of water, enhancement of water storage capacity from 14 MAF to at least 28 MAF through a network of small, medium and large-sized storage reservoirs, increasing efficiency of water use by producing more crop per drop, gradual replacement and refurbishing of irrigation infrastructure and setting up of realistic and achievable targets in consultation with the provinces.
Interior and Planning, Development and Reforms Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari, concerned federal secretaries and senior officials were present during the meeting.