LAHORE: The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) today hosted a panel discussion for the launch of Hisaar Foundation’s Report ‘Recommendations for Pakistan’s National Water Policy Framework’ for the consideration of the government.
The event was a culmination of two years of consultations, including discussion sessions with various water stakeholders across the spectrum, as well as two international water conferences
that focused on water cooperation and water security. The recommendations are part of the first report of Hisaar Foundation’s think tank on Rational Use of Water.
The recommendations focus on five main areas for further 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 infras
tructure, improving water institutions and their management and governance, and finally building a base for science, technology, and social aspects of water.
The goals of the recommendations for Pakistan’s national water policy framework call for extending irrigation system to arid districts of Pakistan. It also calls for creating new storages and enhancing existing storages at different levels. The policy framework calls for improvement in water efficienc
y by 10 percent. It also calls for increasing productivity in agriculture.
The policy framework recommends preserving, repairing and maintaining the existing water infras
tructure. It also calls for a reversal in abiyana to realise the true value of water. The policy framework calls for control in groundwater withdrawals as well as generation of additional indigenous hydropower. The recommendations also call for increased coordination between water, agriculture, and indu
stry for maximum benefits. Finally, it calls for making investment in water infras
tructure and hydropower a core part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The policy framework was presented by former finance minister and Think Tank on Rational Use of Water memberDr Salman Shah. The panelists included notable personalities from the government, industry, non-government sector and academia such as Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Indu
stry (LCCI)PresidentAbdul Basit, Pakistan Agricultural Coalition CEOand former secretary irrigation A
rifNadeem,WITDirectorDrAbubakar Muhammad and Think Tank on Rational Use of Water member Khalid Mohtadullah.
The launch ceremony was moderated by Simi Kamal, an international water and gender specialist and Convener, Think Tank on Rational Use of Water.
Dr Salman Shah highlighted
that while there is a water accord between the provinces, there is no sharing mechanism within each province. Khalid Mohtadullahemphasized
that Pakistan is really a water economy and
that it is possible to save waterin agriculture, yet increase production and productivity. A
rifNadeem stated
that Pakistan is in the business of “build-neglect- rebuild” and raised caution
that there is very little maintenance of the existing system.
Abdul Basit acknowledged
that the indu
stry sector needs to be sensitized and made cognizant of the need for water efficiency and conservation in production processes.
DrAbubakar Mohammad alerted
that the future of technology and use of intelligent machines will change the agricultural scenario and revolutionize the way water is used, managed and governed.