Mr. Sartaj Aziz Deputy Chairman Planning Commission chaired the first meeting of the committee constituted by the Council of Common Interests to review the National Water Policy here today.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad khan Laghari, Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Javed Ali Shah, Chief Secretary KPK, Additional Chief Secretary Balochistan, Federal Secretary for Water Resources, Irrigation department Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial Governments.

Mr. Sartaj Aziz said that water is emerging as a major development and security issue for Pakistan. The present water crisis will be further aggravated in the coming years because of the climate change phenomenon. There is therefore an urgent need for a national water policy that will provide an integrated framework for provincial governments to prepare their action plan for water conservation, water storage and use of improved techniques in the water sector.

Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad khan Laghari emphasized the importance of water efficiency and conservation strategies in the overall policy framework.

Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Javed Ali Shah highlighted the role of provincial governments and other stakeholders, who have the primary responsibility of execution and implementation of the policy.

The committee will hold another meeting after two weeks’ time to finalize first draft of the policy after incorporating the suggestions of members of the committee in the draft report.