By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Task Force on Water Scarcity on Tuesday agreed to strengthen inter-provincial coordination and adopt data-driven strategies to ensure equitable distribution of water and protect national food security.
Govt to enhance inter-provincial coordination to tackle water scarcity
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Malik, in Islamabad.
Senior officials from the Ministries of Water Resources, National Food Security, and Planning, as well as representatives from WAPDA, provincial irrigation departments and water management authorities, attended the session.
The Task Force reviewed current and projected water availability for the upcoming Rabi and Kharif crop seasons, alongside data on inflows from India and their variation in recent years.
Participants expressed concern over the accelerating depletion of groundwater and its adverse implications for agricultural productivity and food security.
The meeting emphasised the need for improved water management, monitoring, and infrastructure modernisation to optimise the use of limited resources.
It was agreed that all provinces must receive their fair share of water in accordance with the national framework, with special attention to ensuring that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are not left behind.
Dr Malik reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing water scarcity through evidence-based planning and collaborative governance.
“Equitable distribution and sustainable management of water are essential for the stability of our agricultural economy and long-term food security,” he said.
