The Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved National Water Policy (NWC) on Tuesday. The 37th meeting of the CCI, presided over by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was given a detailed briefing by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Sartaj Aziz, on draft National Water Policy (NWP). Later, the Prime Minister along with four chief ministers signed the "Pakistan Water Charter" pledging commitment to the National Water Policy.
The meeting also approved Qazi Formula for distributing of net hydel profit, said Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, adding that his province will get an additional Rs 60 to Rs 70 billion of NHP after the implementation of the AGN Qazi Formula. Provinces' insistence led to approval of the formula from the CCI forum. The AGN Qazi formula was developed in 1991 and was approved by the CCI meetings in 1991 and 1993, Khattak pointed out.
He said that the policy has been prepared after consultation with all major stakeholders and a national level consultative seminar was also held to reach a consensus. Proposals presented in the 36th CCI meeting have also been incorporated in the policy, he added.
He further briefed about the salient features of the NWP including water uses and allocation of priorities, integrated planning for development and use of water resources, environmental integrity of the Basin, impact of climate change, trans-boundary water sharing, irrigated and rain-fed agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, hydropower, industry, ground water, water rights and obligations, sustainable water infrastructure, water related hazards, quality management, awareness and research, conservation measures, legal framework and capacity building of water sector institutions.
The CCI was briefed that the implementation of NWP will be undertaken through a national level body namely "National Water Council" (NWC) to be chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising federal ministers for water resources, finance, power, and planning development & reforms, and all provincial chief ministers as members.
The NWC will oversee the implementation of NWP and a steering committee, headed by federal minister for water resources, will monitor the implementation with representatives from federal and provincial governments and concerned departments. The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa presented a brief on implementation of the Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM) for calculation of net hydel profit (NHP).
After detailed deliberations, the CCI directed Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Planning Commission of Pakistan and Ministry of Water Resources to reconcile the claims in consultation with the provinces and resubmit the issue for decision in the next CCI meeting.
Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, federal ministers and senior officials attended the meeting.
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