Ministry of Water and Power has planned to build two big dams along with improvement in the existing water storage system of the country at an estimated cost of $30 billion.
The international community and international financial donor agencies have pledged to invest in Pakistan's water sector over a period of next 10 years.
Federal Minister for Water, Power, State and Frontier Region (Safron), Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao stated this while speaking at a seminar on 'Water Human Rights and Development' organised by International Human Rights Observer- NGO here on Thursday.
He said that the National Water Policy draft is ready, which has been sent to Pakistan Engineering Council for review. It would later be presented to the Federal Cabinet for formal approval, he added.
Another high-level committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to look into water distribution system in Pakistan including rehabilitation of big water reservoirs to overcome the scarcity of water, he said adding the committee would also implement the contents of national water policy in true spirit.
He said that PM's committee would also review the proposals of the Ministry pertaining to the water development projects in the country.
However, the Minister hinted that Mirani dam would be completed by end 2007.
Aftab Sherpao further said that President General Musharraf had constituted political and technical committees for developing consensus among the federating units to initiate water-related projects of national importance.
The two committees in their separate reports also recommended to construct big dams like Bhasha and Akhori, he pointed out.
He maintained that the detailed feasibility report of Bhasha Dam would be finalised by end of June this year.
Regarding the inflow of water in the River Indus, he said that the temperature in the Northern Areas has so far not risen due which there is very little water inflow in dams.
He said that inflow and outflow in the Indus River are same.
However, the Minister admitted the country is still experiencing acute scarcity due to dry weather and depletion of sub-soil water reserves.
We have lost about 25 percent water storage capacity in Pakistan's two major water reservoirs, as they were not desilted for several years due to lack of alternate power generation network, he added.
Fresh water, Sherpao said would be the major challenge for developing nations in the 21st century and we have to introduce sound policies for revamping the water system as per felt needs of the country.
Water and Power Minister said though 75 percent of earth surface is under water, the useable water in short of requirements. Of the total water, 97 percent is saline, 2 percent is frozen, 0.02 percent remains in transition and 0.08 percent is unusable.
The population of Pakistan has been increasing at an alarming rate and during the last 50 years, per capita water availability has been adversely affected, he remarked.
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