Karachi, January 19: Sindh is not against building new water reservoirs but reservations on Kalabagh dam persist and dialogue may help, said Sindh MPAs at a PILDAT Roundtable Discussion for Members of the Provincial Assembly of the Sindh on Inter-Provincial Water Issues in Pakistan. MPAs demanded that a joint dialogue involving MPAs of four (4) Provincial Assemblies should be organized in order to find a way forward on water issues.

The roundtable was organized in order to generate dialogue and create awareness of inter provincial water issues with the presentation of the different opinions of experts from all provinces. Similar Roundtable Discussions have been held for Parliament of Pakistan and Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

MPAs commended PILDAT for taking the initiative in an objective and non-partisan manner and believed that with the discussion few apprehensions have been cleared and only such an initiative can pave the way for future development of water resources as well as conservation and better management of water resources.

Leading water experts from provinces including Mr. Muhammad Idrees Rajput, former Secretary Irrigation Sindh, Mr. Mohammad Amin, member IRSA, Balochistan, Rao Irshad Ali Khan, Chairman IRSA from Punjab made presentations on different view points on inter provincial water issues. A background paper, prepared by PILDAT and approved by a PILDAT-facilitated Inter-Provincial Steering Committee of Water Experts, was also shared with MPAs at the Roundtable Discussion.

Experts were of the view that the elected representatives can play an important role in consensus-building among different stockholders. They should also work for removing trust deficit among provinces which is the biggest hurdle. They said that not only on Indus river but off channel dams should also be constructed to fulfill future need.

Earlier, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT, while highlighting reasons behind this effort, said, that the PILDAT effort is to raise the issue, open it for debate and create awareness for ultimate consensus-building He said that after the devastating flood the question of batter water management is again raised and if 7th NFC award and 18 amendment can achieve unanimously than interprovincial water issues can be handle with such spirit He said that the ultimate objective is to resolve such issues through sustained and informed dialogue with all stakeholders.

PILDAT unveiled two papers at the Roundtable Discussion including Background Paper on Inter-Provincial Water Issues and a Case Study on Inter-State Water Disputes among the Riparian States: The Case of Cauvery River from Peninsular India.