Wapda holds third consultative session on water security

LAHORE: In line with the directive of the prime minister, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Thursday conducted a consultative session of stakeholders and experts in Hyderabad to discuss water security issues in Pakistan.
This was the third session following the two which were held in Lahore and Islamabad on October 5 and 8 respectively as part of a series of such functions to seek guidance and muster support over water security issues.
Besides Wapda Member (Water) Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal, the consultative session was attended by representatives of the various provincial departments of Sindh such as irrigation, agriculture, environment and alternate energy, public health engineering, population welfare, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, NED University Karachi, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam, Sindh University Thatta Campus, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pakistan Fisher Folk Forum, Hisaar Foundation, Sindh Democratic Forum and Centre for Peace and Civil Society.
In addition to a number of water sector experts, Sindh Abadgar Board President and Sindh Chamber of Agriculture General Secretary also participated in the event.
Wapda chairman, who chaired the session, briefed the delegates about the objectives of the consultative sessions on water security issues.
He said that the prime minister has tasked Wapda to consult the stakeholders as well as water sector experts and come up with recommendations so as to finalise the prime minister’s initiatives on water security.
The recommendations of the consultative sessions will be collated and presented to the PM, he added.
Highlighting the importance of water for life, the chairman said that striking a balance between water availability and its need was a must.
He further said there was no harmony among the provinces on water issues, therefore, the need was to forge consensus which could only be reached through constructive engagements.
During the consultative session, Wapda Advisor Dr Izhar-ul-Haq introduced the basic water issues confronting Pakistan.
Later, experts and stakeholders made detailed deliberations about various issues relating to water security in Pakistan.
Sindh Irrigation former secretary Idris Rajput dilated upon the issues concerning water storages in Pakistan and available options in this regard.
Eminent water sector expert Abrar Kazi highlighted the ways and means for efficient use of water. Renowned water sector writer GN Mughul spoke about the need to establish water rights of upper and lower riparian. Water sector expert-cum-author Iqtidar H Siddiqui briefed the participants on trans-boundary water issues.
Simi Kamal of Hisaar Foundation emphasised on the need of sustainability of Indus Delta. Professor Dr Atif Mustafa of NED University Karachi brought into light the impact of climate change on water resources in Pakistan. Dr Kamran Ansari of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro gave a rundown of flood and drought management.
Water sector expert Professor Mushtaq Mirani explained pricing of water usage. Nara Canal and Area Water Board former director Ghulam Mustafa Ujjan expressed his views on the cropping patterns.
Dr Sarfaraz H Solangi, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sindh University Thatta Campus dilated upon the water use and production comparison, while Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar of Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam briefed on issues and challenges of rain harvesting in Sindh.