Ministry directed to finalise national water policy

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Monday directed for finalising the national water policy in three months to save the country from the looming water crisis.
He gave these directives to the Ministry of Water and Power while chairing a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
Ahsan Iqbal said that all relevant government institutions and stakeholders should gear up for finalising the National Water Policy expeditiously in view of the sensitivity of water issue and it should not be ignored like the power sector in the past, which faced the worst crisis due to a lack of proper planning and failure to assess its demand and supply.
He also underlined the need to involve engineering fora and universities in formulation of water policy.
He said that water resource management was the need of hour because of frequent floods due to climate change.
“Whenever the issue of water rights is raised at international forums, the neighbouring country resorts to arguments that Pakistan can’t manage its surplus water,” he pointed out.
The minister believed that water issue is of utmost importance for the future of country. The coming generations would not forgive us if we didn’t take appropriate steps immediately to address the water needs of growing urbanisation.
Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, Ahsan Iqbal, directed the provinces and federal ministries to prepare the local versions of SDGS for a broader national action plan to achieve the desired goals in stipulated time frame. He said, “We had to face great embarrassment due to non-fulfillment of MDGs. We can’t afford a replay of the same. SDGs have to be met for development of the country and the Vision-2025 lays special emphasis on attainment of these goals.”
The minister also directed the provinces and federal ministries to appoint focal persons to integrate the working of all stakeholders for a consensus agreement.