From Karachi to Kashmore no drainage exists, moot told.

KARACHI -- Absence of a drainage system was identified as a major reason for last year's devastating flooding across Sindh at a workshop held on Friday to discuss a draft document of the National Water Conservation Strategy 2022-2027 and look into the implementation of the provincial National Water Policy 2018.

Jointly organised by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Pakistan and Federal Flood Commission (FFC), the event was attended by experts and officials representing several government departments including Water and Power Development Authority, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority.

Presenting a detailed overview of the national water conservation strategy's draft, PCRWR secretary Dr Hifza Rasheed explained the need for a conservation policy and strategy and its priorities.

'The key objectives are to ensure conservation of water, minimise wastage, secure equitable distribution both across and within provinces and support service providers to develop best management practices for water conservation in agriculture, domestic and industrial sectors,' she said.

Experts say unfair water distribution also contributing to poverty

These steps would not only help minimise financial dependence on federal and provincial governments, but also provide actionable information about water conservation in all sectors ensuring water security under changing climate, she added.

Dr Rasheed, who also holds the charge of PCRWR director general, said the national strategy on water conservation aimed to improve water productivity by introducing water-efficient technologies, optimise groundwater abstraction and balance with recharge and develop non-conventional water sources for agriculture, for instance, secondary treated sewage water.

'In addition, we want to promote the use of information technology for water resources management in all sectors and bring about irrigation efficiency.'

The speakers included Engineer Hafiz Abdul Salam and Dr Ghulam Murtaza, PCRWR regional directors at Tandojam and Karachi, respectively.

Obstacles identified

During the discussion, the stakeholders, including researchers from several public universities, highlighted the water challenges hampering provincial growth and progress. It was pointed out that while officials were quick to blame climate change, the absence of a drainage mechanism in the province led to last...