World Bank pledges $6 million for capacity-building, support to Irsa

The World Bank will provide $6 million to Pakistan for "Capacity Building and Support to Indus River System Authority (Irsa)" for establishment of a water flow measurement system at key points on the river system as part of a plan to improve water auditing and transparency and communication in water distribution.
According to Irsa sources, this component would strengthen Irsa's capacity to carry out its role as envisaged in the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord. This would cover inter-alia: (a) establishment of digital and GIS-based databases with the capability of integrating satellite images, and management information systems with web-based interfaces for access to information by all stakeholders, including the public; (b) studies and development of modern tools for improving seasonal, monthly, and 10-daily inflows forecasts to the system, and possible scenarios for water requirements and for demands by various sectors and provinces; (c) development and improvement in tools and models for simulation and optimisation of operation and management of Indus system's water resources, including updating and enhancement of the Indus Basin Model; (d) establishment of a water flow measurement system at key points on the river system as part of a plan to improve water auditing and transparency and communication in water distribution, and (e) institutional capacity building and training. Much of this work will be carried out in collaboration with Wapda and with the provincial authorities responsible for water resources planning and management, sources added.
In update project report, the World Bank observed that the major institutional issue is a near exclusive control of the irrigation and drainage system by public sector entities in Pakistan, characterised by the usual inefficiencies of centralised bureaucracies, lack of corporate skills and poor client (farmer) focus and accountability.
Commenting over the "Irrigation and Drainage Sector Issues" WB experts mentioned that agriculture is the single most important source of employment and exports (two-thirds of employment and 80 percent of exports). About 90 percent of the food production and 25 percent of the GDP comes from irrigated agriculture primarily from the IBIS. Irrigation also represents more than 95 percent of the total consumptive use of water. Despite the fundamental role it has in the economy, the Irrigation and Drainage (I&D) in Pakistan faces major issues that are reflective of underlying institutional weaknesses, WB experts added.