CM, WB team discuss improvement of water board, irrigation system efficiency
Irfan Ali
CM, WB team discuss improvement of water board, irrigation system
efficiency
KARACHI Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has
said that Pakistan is facing severe water scarcity, and the situation is even
worse in Sindh, therefore, it is crucial to promote efficient use of water for
both domestic and irrigation purposes to ensure sustainable water management.
This emerged in the meeting of the CM with a World Bank high-power
delegation led by Water Global Director Mr Saroj Kumar Jha and World Bank
Country Director Mr Najy Binhassine discussing reforms in Karachi Water Board
and the improvement of the Irrigation system in the province.
The meeting was held at the CM House and was attended by Chief
Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chairman P&D Shakeel
Mangnejo, PSCM Agha Wasif, and Secretary Irrigation Niaz Abbasi.
Murad Shah highlighted that Pakistan is facing a severe shortage
of water, and the situation is even worse in Sindh. Therefore, it is crucial to
promote efficient use of water for both domestic and irrigation purposes to
ensure sustainable water management.
The Chief Minister said that Karachi was a big city, and his
government was working hard to meet its water requirement. “In consultation
with the World Bank, we have brought reforms in the water board and have
involved the private sector to make it more efficient,” he said.
According to the World Bank Water Global Director, the Karachi
Water board needs to operate like a commercial organization. He emphasized that
water is more crucial than electricity. However, people tend to overlook its
importance because its rates are lower than electricity, and they don't take
the payment of its bill seriously.
It was pointed out that when the recoveries of the K-Electric were
better why the water board could not make its recoveries to meet its all
expenditures? The water board is so financially weak that it has to depend on
the provincial government every month to pay its electricity bill.
Mayor Karachi who happens to be the chairman of the Water Board
said that since the introduction of reforms in KWSB the recoveries have started
increasing. He said that KWSBC has recovered Rs1.6 billion during the last
quarter while it was recovering less than Rs1 billion and then Rs1.1 billion.
The chief minister said that the water board was working on the
installation of meters to gauge the usage. “The water board is closely working
with the World Bank experts to make it more efficient in its structure and
vibrant in its service delivery,” he said.
Another matter that came under discussion was the improvement of
the irrigation system. The CM said that due to floods of 2010, 2011 and then
2022, the entire irrigation system has been affected badly. He said that the
provincial government was working with the World Bank for the improvement of
the irrigation system.
The World Bank Water Global Director said he has visited Sukkur
Barrage. He added that it was a marvellous barrage. The CM said that its repair
and maintenance remained a regular feature.
The CM said that the canal system has also been affected due to
floods which was being improved through the provincial resources and with the
assistance of the World Bank.
The chief minister and the World Bank delegation have agreed to
collaborate on improving the efficiency of the water board and irrigation
system.
