National Water Policy

Amid the new ambitious plans and schemes, approval of the National Water Policy is also on the table. It sure sounds good to the ears that finally a national reconciliation is on the cards as Council of Common Interests (CCI) is expected approve the National Water Policy among other projects by the end of this month.

However, a water policy has been in the making for the last quarter of a decade or so. This is surely not how policies are made. Policies have an objective, a time frame, some goals and ways to achieve them. Policies need consensus, and that’s been lacking in making one on water.

Though details on the contents of the devised policy are not known, Indus Water Treaty should definitely be part of it as it has come under great pressure in recent years. Climate change, building storage capacity, addressing channel losses and inefficient irrigation practices, rationalising household, industrial and commercial water use, introducing water rights and proper pricing have all been highlighted by the column time and again as critical factors (Read: Water under the bridge, published on Friday, July 14, 2017).

Hisaar Foundation’s report, ‘Recommendations for Pakistan’s National Water Policy Framework’ released last year highlighted five main areas for action. These include improving water access for the poor and landless, financing the urban and rural water value chain, safeguarding the Indus Basin and its infrastructure, improving water institutions and their management and governance, and finally building a base for science, technology, and social aspects of water.

Other recommendations of the report were based on addressing the water sharing mechanism between provinces; extending the irrigation; increasing productivity in agriculture; increased coordination between water, agriculture, and industry for maximum benefits; and making investment in water a core part of CPEC.

Role of various actors is equally important in devising and implementing a successful water policy. Apart from the multilateral donors and global banks, the government and local banks need to raise funds and invest in water management, irrigation system and maintaining and rebuilding infrastructure.

Wasting about Rs25 billion worth of water every year is alone enough reason for ringing alarms bells.

The country faces a heap of problems, and water management is one of them. Will the water policy finally move into the implementation stage, one cannot tell yet; there is a hurry to announce the ambitious plans and schemes come 2018 elections? Whether there is a will to finally address the water problem has to be seen.