F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) Tuesday reached a consensus on the need to adopt the National Water Policy, keeping in view the changes in the climate and rapidly depleting water resources in the country.
The 36th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here at the PM Office. The participants agreed that the proposed policy be brought before the next CCI meeting after incorporating suggestions from provinces for a final approval.
Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo attended the meeting. Punjab was represented by Minister Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha. Chief Secr-etaries of all provinces and federal secretaries besides senior officials from Federal and Provincial Governments were also present.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz briefed the meeting in detail about the draft National Water Policy (NWP).
It was emphasized that Pakistan was rapidly becoming water-scarce country and obligations towards Sustainable Development Goals require adoption of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). Population growth and water demands for various sectors of the economy necessitate urgent measures to enhance storage capacity, he said.
The CCI was briefed that the draft NWP includes strategic initiatives and was in line with the National Climate Change Policy 2012. It was informed that the draft NWP includes establishment of administrative bodies at the federal and provincial levels, including National Water Council, Provincial Water Authorities to improve coordination regarding water resource management.
Secretary, Statistics Division presented an update on CCI’s earlier decision of carrying out a validation exercise of Census results 2017. The meeting reiterated that 5% validation exercise shall be undertaken through a third party as per the decision taken at CCI’s meeting on November 24, 2017.
Finance Secretary gave a detailed briefing on various subsidies being given by the Federal Government on different commodities including subsidy being provided to PASSCO for maintaining strategic wheat reserves, subsidy on essential items through Utility Stores Corporation, Ramzan Relief Package and support for export of wheat and sugar. Pakistan Alliance for Mathematics and Science also gave a presentation on way forward for promoting science and mathematics education in the country.
