Peshawar, February 01: Concerns of smaller provinces should be addressed properly on water issues and serious efforts are needed to overcome trust deficit among provinces, said Pakhtunkhwa MPAs at a PILDAT Roundtable Discussion for Members of the Provincial Assembly of the KPK on Inter-Provincial Water Issues in Pakistan. MPAs believed that building new reservoirs is important for development of the country but efforts should be made for consensus building.

Mr. Khushdil Khan, Deputy Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Guest of the session, in his opening remarks said resolving water issues is most important for national development and future of the nation. He believed that hydro generation for electricity is the cheapest and most affordable form of electricity which should be generated for economic and industrial development.

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, Sindh and Balochistan.

MPAs commended PILDAT for taking the initiative in an objective 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, Mr. Raqeeb Khan member IRSA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Mr. Shmas ul Mulk, former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former Chairman WAPDA made presentations on different view points on inter provincial water issues.

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. They also believed that water conservation is the need of hour.

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. He said that electricity shortage and unbearable cost is also a big problem for masses and industry, hydro electricity generation is the answer for this problem. He said that the ultimate objective is to resolve such issues through sustained and informed dialogue with all stakeholders.