NA Standing Committee on Water Resources briefed on the overall functions, performance of the Ministry & its attached departments

ISLAMABAD, July 24 (SABAH): The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources met on Wednesday in Committee Room of the Ministry under the Chairmanship of Khalid Hussain Magsi, to discuss the following agenda: –

i).     Detail Briefing by the Secretary Water Resources on the overall functions, performance of the Ministry and its attached departments;

ii).     Briefing by Chairman IRSA on the Current Water Situation in the country and on short supply of water in north west canal (Kirthar Canal) at Balochistan; and

iii).      Any other item with the permission of Chair.

Syed Ali Murtza, Secretary, Water Resources briefed the Committee about the overall performance of the Ministry and its attached departments as per the Rules of Business, 1973. He added that the Ministry oversees matters related to the development of the country’s water resources, including the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and the Indus Basin. The Ministry liaises with WAPDA, international organizations in the water sector, federal agencies, and institutions for the promotion of special studies. The attached departments include Pakistan Trans-border Water Organizations, IRSA, the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), the Federal Flood Commission, and the Pakistan Commission for Indus Waters. The Committee was informed about the organogram, sanctioned strength, and working position of the Ministry. 

The Chairman, WAPDA also briefed the Committee on the latest status of the development of various dams, particularly Dasu and Mohmand Dams. The members highlighted issues including the non-compensation of land to the affected individuals, and the Committee decided to have a comprehensive briefing on these two dams in its next meeting.

The Chairman, IRSA briefed the Committee that IRSA is responsible for regulating and managing the distribution of water resources among provinces. The Committee was informed about the reasons for the shortage of water in Kirthar Canal, which could include reduced inflows from upstream reservoirs or reduced releases allocated to the canal due to overall water availability issues.

The meeting was attended by Muhammad Idrees, Ms. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan, Ahmad Raza Maneka, Syed Abrar Ali Shah, Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Nawab Muhammad Yousaf Talpur, Syed Waseem Hussain, Suhail Sultan, Malik Anwar Taj, Dawar Khan Kundi, Ms. Zartaj Gul, MNAs, Senator Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Federal Minister and Secretary, Water Resources, Chairman Wapda, Chairman Irsa along with members & other officials of the Ministry.