ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources on Friday expressed serious concern over Pakistan’s growing water crisis, delays in major water infrastructure projects and inadequate funding for the sector, while calling for the wider use of satellite technology and advanced forecasting systems to strengthen flood management.
The committee, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, met at Parliament House to review implementation of previous recommendations, examine Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocations for the water sector and receive a detailed briefing from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).
Committee members voiced concern over the slow implementation of earlier recommendations and directed all relevant departments to ensure timely compliance.
During a briefing on river encroachments, officials informed the committee that satellite imagery is being used to monitor illegal construction along rivers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has identified 227 encroachment points, although satellite images have so far been obtained for only 18 locations, while Punjab has reported 2,737 encroachment sites. WAPDA said provincial governments were removing encroachments through district administrations.
Chairman Jam Saifullah Khan stressed the need to expand the use of modern technology for flood forecasting and river management. He directed that the committee’s next meeting focus specifically on satellite-based flood monitoring and proposed an in-camera session on the Indus Waters Treaty, future reservoir development and Pakistan’s long-term water security. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) and provincial irrigation departments will be invited to participate.
The committee also expressed concern over staff shortages at the Federal Flood Commission, noting that approval to fill vacant posts remains pending with the Establishment Division. It directed authorities to expedite the required No Objection Certificate (NOC), given the commission’s critical role during the ongoing monsoon season.
Members were informed that the draft Dam Safety Council Bill has been finalised and will soon be submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources. The committee observed that dam safety is currently managed through administrative arrangements rather than a dedicated legal framework.
Discussing groundwater depletion, officials reported that water tables continue to decline in several districts of Punjab, including Okara, Vehari, Sahiwal, Multan and Lahore. The committee called for adopting international best practices in groundwater conservation, efficient irrigation and sustainable water management to protect agricultural productivity.
Provincial authorities also briefed the committee on groundwater challenges. Sindh officials said nearly 80 percent of groundwater in the province is saline and that a provincial groundwater law is being prepared. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported that no comprehensive groundwater assessment has yet been conducted due to the absence of piezometer installations, while Balochistan officials warned that annual groundwater extraction exceeds available resources across 18 groundwater basins. They outlined plans for groundwater monitoring, recharge dams and GIS-based decision support systems.
The committee was informed that Pakistan is among the world’s most water-stressed countries and faces increasing pressure on its water resources in the coming decades.
Reviewing the Nai Gaj Dam Project, WAPDA informed lawmakers that the original contractor submitted a fake bank guarantee in 2009, causing an estimated financial loss of Rs23 billion. The contractor was subsequently blacklisted and the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court. The committee supported the ministry’s position and stressed the need for accountability while expediting the project’s completion, which is expected to irrigate around 28,000 acres of farmland.
The committee also reviewed progress on several strategic projects, including Hingol Dam, Harpo Dam, Kachhi Canal, RBOD-I and RBOD-III, along with issues related to waterlogging and drainage infrastructure.
On the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, WAPDA informed members that repair work on the damaged tunnel is continuing and that nearly 80 percent of the project’s construction cost has already been recovered through electricity generation. The committee called for an independent investigation into the causes of the tunnel failure and cost overruns to ensure accountability and prevent similar issues in future infrastructure projects.
Reviewing PSDP allocations for the current fiscal year, lawmakers expressed serious concern over insufficient funding for water and power projects, warning that financial shortfalls could delay strategically important schemes.
The committee also received a briefing on WAPDA’s institutional reforms, financial management and internal audit mechanisms, noting that the authority’s primary focus is now the development and management of water reservoirs.
Concluding the meeting, Chairman Jam Saifullah Khan directed that a separate session be convened to comprehensively review the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) projects and their operational challenges, while remaining recommendations from previous meetings will be taken up during the committee’s next sitting.
Also Read: ERC Reviews Nationwide Monsoon Preparedness, Directs Provinces to Maintain High Alert
