Advisor Mega Dam Water and Power Development Authority Engineer Abdul Khaliq Khan, while delivering a lecture on Pakistan’s Water Issues organized by Pakistan Engineering Congress said that Pakistan’s water storage capability should be increased from 30 days to 90 days by building more storage projects like Diamer Bhasha Dam on top priority.
President PEC Engineer Chaudhry Ghulam Hussain also expressed his views on this occasion during his welcome speech. Pakistan Engineering Congress, currently led by Engr. Ch. Ghulam Hussain has made this a regular feature to highlight the current issues time to time from its platform. They arranged a lecture on Pakistan’s water issue on 23rd November at Congress building which was attended by senior professionals, consultants and members.
Engr. Khaliq khan called for strengthening the office of Indus Commission to protect Pakistan’s interests in legal battles of Indus Water Treaty. He also called for signing water sharing treaty on Kabul River with Afghanistan.
Khan said water issues were interlinked with investments therefore Pakistan’s economy and fiscal issues should be addressed on priority. He said incentives and subsidies should be provided to promote High Efficiency Irrigation Systems such as land leveling, furrow and drip irrigation. He also said irrigation water should be judiciously priced to ensure the O&M and sustainability of water infrastructure.
He suggested lining of water courses minors and canals particularly in saline zones should be carried out, manage ground water mining through legislations to control subsoil water table and aquifer pollution, and dry and salt tolerant variety of crops should be introduced in saline lands.
