ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources on Thursday called for a broader national debate on water security, construction of water storage projects and equitable distribution of water, warning that population growth and climate change were putting increasing pressure on the country’s limited water resources.
The proposal emerged during a meeting of the committee, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan and attended by NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General InamHaider Khan, senior officials of the NDMA, Ministry of Water Resources and its attached departments.
“There is a need for a national debate on looming water scarcity and growing population in the country so that better planning can be undertaken to build projects to deal with the expected situation,” the NDMA chairman said.
The chairman said water security was directly linked to food security and the future of coming generations, and assured that all stakeholders would be engaged in an open and constructive national dialogue to develop solutions through broader consensus.
A detailed discussion was held on water storage initiatives and the need to strengthen national water resource management and storage capacity. Participants stressed improved water monitoring, data-driven planning, efficient utilisation of available water resources and technology-based solutions to enhance water security and resilience against climate-related risks.
The committee was informed that Punjab is projected to face a 26.7 per cent water shortage by 2047, followed by Sindh at 23.3 per cent, Balochistan at 1.6 per cent and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 1.0 per cent.
The participants discussed the potential of localised water storage facilities as an alternative or complement to large dams for storing excess floodwater.
Additional Secretary/Indus Water Commissioner Mehar Ali Shah said the federal and provincial governments needed to take concrete measures and work on projects aimed at conserving and storing water.
The committee also emphasised the need for consensus-based solutions on water distribution, particularly in view of concerns raised by lower-riparian provinces.
Senator PoonjoBheel expressed concern over what he termed as non-provision of Sindh’s due water share despite a decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).
The committee expressed serious concern over encroachments on natural waterways, including the Ravi River, nullahs and other water bodies across the country, and called for strict measures to remove encroachments and keep natural waterways clear.
The Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, informed the committee that a draft Flood Plain Regulations Act had been shared with the provinces. The chairman directed the ministry to follow up on the matter and further strengthen coordinated flood mitigation and management efforts.
On the current monsoon situation, the committee was informed that 155 people had been killed and 460 injured since June 26, while 1,341 houses and 27.44 kilometres of roads had been damaged and 580 livestock killed.
NDMA officials said preparations for the monsoon season had started in January and emergency response plans had been prepared in advance. The authority, they said, takes preventive measures on the basis of advance information and remains in close coordination with provincial departments.
The chairman emphasised the critical importance of interprovincial coordination in disaster management and emergency response. The committee was informed that the Prime Minister had constituted an Emergency Response Committee, headed by a senior federal minister, to coordinate with relevant stakeholders, including district administrations, for an effective response to the current monsoon situation.
The chairman stressed that such coordination mechanisms should remain functional throughout the year to strengthen preparedness and disaster management.
The committee was also informed that there was currently no flooding in the Ravi River. NDMA officials said the issue of encroachments along the river fell within the provincial government’s jurisdiction.
The NDMA chairman stressed the need to educate communities about disaster preparedness and response, saying that local communities would also have to play an active role in protecting lives and property during natural disasters.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026