ISLAMABAD - Only half of the stakeholders have provided their concurrence to the Implementation Framework of National Water Policy (NWP) as Federal Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi has urged the stakeholders to submit their concurrence within two weeks.
The Steering Committee on National Water Policy also constituted a committee headed to review the matter of providing additional water supply to Karachi. While chairing over the second meeting of the Steering Committee of National Water Policy Tuesday here, the Minister for Water Resources Moonis Elahi highlighted the importance of water sector and underscored the importance of implementation of the National Water Policy for achieving economic development goals of the country and well being of the people of Pakistan. 
The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretaries of MoWR, PD&SI, representatives of Finance Division, M/O NFS&R, and the provincial secretaries of Irrigation and Agriculture departments of the Govts of Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan as well as representatives of governments of AJK and GB also attended the meeting. Besides, representatives of WAPDA, Surveyor General of Pakistan, IRSA, Flood Commission and the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters also attended. 
The minister for water resources reviewed the status of concurrence on Implementation Framework of NWP presented in the first meeting of the Steering Committee held in September 2021. While appreciating the painstaking efforts made by the Ministry in formulating the Implementation Framework, he urged the stakeholders to expedite furnishing the concurrence of the respective stakeholders within two weeks. The stakeholders were also directed to submit their respective concurrence through the respective P&D Deptt being a consolidated input of the provinces. So far, out of the 28 stakeholders, only half have provided their concurrence.
The federal minister also reviewed the matter of providing additional water supply to Karachi in pursuance of the decision of the CCI. In order to take informed decision, he approved constitution of a committee headed by the Joint Secretary (Water) MoWR and comprising IRSA Members, MD KWSB, and provincial secretaries of Irrigation Departments. 
As an additional agenda item, he also considered request of Govt of AJ&K for resolution of 614 cusec water from Mangla to irrigate its surrounding areas lying in AJK. In this regard, he suggested the Govt of AJK to submit a reference to the M/O WR for taking further necessary action. He encouraged the stakeholders particularly the provinces to follow the same spirit and extend their best cooperation in implementation of the national water policy.