Pakistan has become a ‘water-stressed’ country: WAPDA chairman.
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain said on Tuesday that Pakistan may face water scarcity if remedial measures are not taken in time.
He passed these remarks during his visit to Nai Gaj and Darawat Dams in Dadu and Jamshoro.
The chairman said that the due to the rapid growth in population and decrease in capacity of existing water reservoirs, Pakistan has become a water-stressed country.
“To tackle the worsening situation, every decade, construction work should be done on one mega dam, while small and medium-sized dams should also be constructed,” he maintained.
While briefing, Muzzamil said that WAPDA was committed to optimal development of water resources in Pakistan in view of rapid surge in water requirements in the country.
“Under a joint strategy, WAPDA is striving hard not only to initiate construction work on mega water sector projects – namely Diamer Basha and Mohmand dams – in the shortest possible time, but also to expedite the pace of work on medium-sized projects – including Nai Gaj Dam,” he added.
The WAPDA chairman was briefed that the construction work was lagging behind the schedule owing to a number of reasons; insufficient allocation and release of funds being the major factor.
The chairman expressed satisfaction that Darawat Dam was complete and was ready to be handed over to the Sindh government for its operation.
He was also briefed that the spell of rains last year and that of this year had a good impact on filling of the dam.