National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources Monday formed a three member sub-committee to investigate discrepancies in the water distribution data released by Indus River System Authority (IRSA). National Assembly Standing Committee Chairperson MNA Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur recommended constituting the sub-committee of the members comprising Khalid Hussain Magsi, Riaz-ul-Haq and Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Riaz-ul-Haq pointed out the difference during the briefing presented by Chairman IRSA Sher Zaman Khan claiming less water shortage as compared to Irrigation Department Sindh Special Secretary's data. The committee sought briefing as per the agenda from IRSA over water distribution where the Chairman IRSA and members of IRSA from Sindh and Balochistan remained poles apart on the subject of water distribution and shortage borne by each respective province.
However, the chairman IRSA informed the committee that at present 108.67 million acre feet (MAF) total Kharif water reserves were available as compared to last year's 88.04MAF. "This year due to more snowfall on the upper reaches we have enough water available in the country," he said.
The ministry of water resources, joint secretary and Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) Syed Muhammad Mehr Ali Shah briefed the committee that prior to existing national water policy there was no such legal framework done. However, during the policy formulation all provinces, civil society and academia were involved in the extensive consultations made in the process.
"It is a detailed and all inclusive document that incorporates all matters from ground water conservation to water governance. National Water Council stands constituted after the approval of the policy. It is headed by the Prime Minister with all of the provinces' chief ministers including chief minister Gilgit Baltistan and Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir as members on special invitation along with the federal ministers,' he added.
The council, Shah said had been notified and convened its first meeting which was the only forum available to bring mass consensus of all quarters concerned on water issues. The committee was also informed by member technical that all the prerequisite arrangements and plans were in place for flood management and monsoon season.
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