ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources on Wednesday recommended 64 water and hydropower projects for the financial year 2026–27 at an estimated cost of Rs 976 billion, amid complaints regarding the slow release of allocated funds by the Ministry of Water Resources.
The meeting, presided over by Ahmad Ateeq Anwar, commenced nearly 30 minutes late due to a lack of quorum. The committee discussed proposed ongoing and new development projects in the water and hydropower sectors. Mehar Ali Shah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, along with officials from Wapda and the provinces, briefed the committee on project details.
The committee was informed that the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation for 42 water and hydropower projects for FY 2025–26 stood at Rs 133.424 billion against a total project cost of Rs 3.959 trillion, of which only Rs 1.357 billion had been released as of June 30, 2025.
In his presentation, Mehar Ali Shah apprised the committee that 34 ongoing projects/schemes are planned for 2026–27. Of these, 14 are being executed by Wapda, one by the Sindh government, two by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 by Balochistan, and four fall under miscellaneous categories (including telemetry stations).
Additionally, the Wapda has proposed 14 new projects for FY 2026–27, Sindh four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa two, and one under miscellaneous, bringing the total number of new projects to 21. In total, 55 projects (ongoing and new) have been proposed for the next fiscal year.
The Ministry of Water Resources has sought an allocation of Rs 550.85 billion for Wapda’s 28 water sector projects/schemes, Rs 10.687 billion for Sindh, Rs 12.74 billion for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 38.731 billion for Balochistan, and Rs 18.411 billion for miscellaneous projects — totaling Rs 631.42 billion.
For hydropower projects, the Wapda has requested Rs 344.583 billion for ongoing and new projects for FY 2026–27, including Rs 253 billion for ongoing schemes and Rs 91.55 billion for new projects.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, out of the total demand of Rs 976 billion for FY 2026–27, Rs 776.36 billion is allocated for ongoing projects/schemes, while Rs 199.62 billion is earmarked for new initiatives.
Shazia Marri raised several questions regarding the proposed projects, particularly those listed under miscellaneous categories and their sources of funding, giving officials from the Ministry of Water Resources a tough time.
According to an official statement, the committee, after thorough deliberation, approved the ongoing projects of the Ministry of Water Resources. In its observations, the committee emphasised that issues pertaining to the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) in Sindh must be addressed on a priority basis through close coordination between federal and provincial representatives. It stressed that such matters should be resolved amicably and without delay.
Furthermore, the committee recommended that comprehensive information regarding employees recruited under the Kachhi Canal Project — including complete details and domicile status — be furnished at the earliest opportunity to ensure transparency and accountability in recruitment practices.
The committee also recommended a detailed briefing on the Pat Feeder Canal Project, describing it as a significant federal initiative for Balochistan. It underscored the project’s importance in addressing water resource challenges in the region and called for a full update on its progress, scope, and implementation strategy.
The meeting was attended by Mian Khan Bugti, Shamaila Rana, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani (via Zoom), Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Shazia Marri, and Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Watto, along with officials from the Ministry of Water Resources.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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