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Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Centre to help resolve Sindh's water woes
The federal government assured the Sindh government on Thursday of its full cooperation in addressing the province's water-related issues, including K-IV Phase-1, improvements in the Hub Canal water share, the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD), and water distribution under the 1991 Water Accord. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a meeting with Federal Water Resources Minister Moin Wattoo at the Chief Minister House to discuss key water projects. The issue of water shortage for Karachi metropolis figured prominently in the meeting. The meeting was attended by Provincial Planning Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Naveed Asghar Chaudhry, Sindh Chief Secretary Rahim Sheikh and senior officers. The meeting took place after a visit to the K-IV project by Wattoo, along with provincial Planning Minister Nasir Shah. The meeting was informed that with 63% construction work finished, the project's Phase I would be completed next year. The water requirement of Karachi, at present, is 1,300 million gallons per day (MGD). However, the city receives half of its needs – 650 MGD. To meet the shortage, the Sindh government planned K-IV project to supply 650 MGD from Keenjhar Lake to the city. WAPDA is working on Phase-1 of the project, following its approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in January 2022 at a cost of Rs126.404 billion. Despite administrative approval, the chief minister stated that the project faced challenges that needed federal intervention. Shah pointed out that the project required Rs39.964 billion funding during the current fiscal year, 2025-26, but the federal government had allocated Rs3.209 billion only. It could cause delays, risking cost escalation and contractor claims. Wattoo told the chief minister that he would brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the project to secure additional funds. He acknowledged that Sindh had mostly resolved the Right of Way (ROW) issues but two major obstacles still remained – land acquisition in Thatta and a court case. The chief minister assured that the land for the pumping station in Thatta would be handed over soon. He also assured the federal government of the release of Rs8.5 billion as part of the fourth quarterly instalment in Sindh's share of funding in the project. Chief Minister Shah said that Sindh had repaired the old Hub Canal and built a new 100 MGD-capacity channel to improve water supply to Karachi. Both leaders agreed to conduct a technical survey to assess water availability before submitting recommendations to the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Inter-provincial water distribution The chief minister urged the federal minister to facilitate a direct meeting between Sindh and Punjab's irrigation departments to resolve the water-sharing disputes. He emphasised that water distribution must be done under the 1991 Water Accord. Chief Minister Shah recalled that the CCI had tasked the then attorney general for Pakistan with reviewing the accord during the tenure of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Wattoo agreed to hold separate meetings with representatives from both provinces.
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Minister inaugurates Mohmand Dam Phase II
WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (r) Sajjad Ghani briefs Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the impact of the recent flood in Swat River on the diversion tunnels of Mohmand Dam Project. PHOTO: PML-N/@pmln_org Federal Minister for Water Resources, Muhammad Moin Wattoo, has issued a stern warning against any attempts to disrupt Pakistan's water supply, calling such actions "an act of war." He emphasized that the government will not tolerate any infringement on the country's water rights. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Mohmand Dam Phase-II, the minister underscored the critical role of water in Pakistan's survival and progress. "No one has the right to take our water. Blocking it is equivalent to waging war against us," Wattoo stated firmly. He referenced the Indus Waters Treaty, affirming that both Pakistan and India are legally bound to honor its terms. "This is a binding agreement with full legal validity. Its suspension or violation will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he warned. Progress on Mohmand Dam Wattoo noted that construction of the Mohmand Dam is advancing rapidly and is projected to be completed by 2027 or 2028. However, he assured the public that the government is striving to complete it ahead of schedule. He also praised the contributions of Chinese engineers working on the project. "It is truly commendable that Chinese engineers are working day and night to ensure timely completion of this crucial infrastructure," he said. Wattoo reiterated the government's commitment to allocating all available resources to ensure swift completion of the dam. Economic and Environmental Impact Once operational, the Mohmand Dam will generate 800 megawatts of clean, affordable hydropower and will bring thousands of acres of land under irrigation. It is expected to significantly improve the local economy by creating jobs and boosting agricultural productivity. WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd.) Sajjad Ghani was also present at the ceremony. Located on the Swat River in the Mohmand District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Dam is poised to be the fifth-largest Concrete Face Rock-Filled Dam (CFRD) in the world, standing at 213 meters high. It will have a storage capacity of 1.29 million acre-feet, bringing 18,233 acres of new land in Mohmand and Charsadda districts under cultivation, while also supporting irrigation for another 160,000 acres of existing farmland.
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'India stonewalling water talks'
A National Assembly panel was told on Wednesday that while the Pakistan Commission on Indus Waters (PCIW) is tasked with engaging New Delhi on transboundary water issues, the dialogue table has remained empty for the past two years due to India's reluctance to come to the negotiating table. The NA Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Ahmad Ateeq Anwar, convened for an in-depth briefing on the country's key hydropower projects and the growing strain caused by India's repeated disregard for treaty obligations. Federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Muneer Wattoo, Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani, former WAPDA chairman Shakil Durrani and Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah were in attendance. The agenda included updates on the under-construction Dasu and Mohmand Dam projects, along with the status of the NeelumJhelum Hydropower Project. Addressing the panel, the water resources secretary noted that while the PCIW holds the brief for initiating talks with India over shared water resources, there has been radio silence from across the border. "The Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally suspended," the secretary affirmed, adding that "we will take India's violations to international arbitration and other global forums". He asserted that under the treaty, Pakistan holds full rights over the three western rivers, while India may only use a limited quantity for domestic and agricultural purposes and generate hydropower without altering the river flow. "India cannot divert the flow of rivers," he added. Committee chairman Ahmad Atiq Anwar directed that the committee be briefed on six canal projects, responding to a request by Dawar Kundi. Minister Wattoo added, "Whenever the committee wishes, we will arrange a visit to the Dasu Dam site and facilitate meetings with affected communities." Wattoo called for discussions on India's water aggression and violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, noting that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) had already resolved some of the issues. In his briefing, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani disclosed that Pakistan receives 140 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually, However, it can only store 13 MAF due to siltation. "The country has the capacity to store up to 20 MAF, but due to silt, current usable storage is limited to 13 MAF," he noted. He further explained that silt cannot simply be released, as it would damage the barrages. "Damage to the barrages could severely impact the agriculture sector," he warned.
