Federal Minister Planning, Development & Reform Ahsan Iqbal on Monday directed for finalising the National Water Policy in three months to save the country from water crisis. He gave these directives to Ministry of Water and Power while chairing the meeting of Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
Ahsan Iqbal said all relevant government institutions and stakeholders should gear up towards finalising National Water Policy expeditiously in view of sensitivity of water issue and it should not be ignored like power sector in the past which turned to worst proportions due to 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 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 was of utmost importance for future of the country. "The coming generations would not forgive us if we didn't take the appropriate steps immediately to address water needs of growing urbanisation." Meanwhile, chairing a meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at 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-fulfilling of MDGs. We can't afford replay of same. SDGs have to be met for development of country and Vision-2025 lays special emphasis on attainment of these goals." The Minister also directed the provinces and federal ministries to appoint the focal persons to integrate the working of all stakeholders for a consensus agreement.-PR