November 12, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 16, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 11: The Parliamentary Committee on Water Resources has decided to review the previous water accords before attempting to create consensus on the construction of future storages.

The first meeting of the PCWR was held on Tuesday.

The meeting approved a four-point terms of reference (TOR) to complete its deliberations in consultation with opposition parties, NGOs, respective provinces and ministries of water and power, food and environment.

Senator Nisar Memon told reporters after the meeting that the committee would submit its recommendations as soon as possible but not later than June 2004.

The committee decided to carry out cross studies on two separate presentations which were given by secretary water and power on the national strategy and by chairman Wapda on the development of water resources.

Under the TOR, the committee would review previous water accords and discuss the impact for incorporation in the National Irrigation Water Strategy.

The committee decided to develop a national irrigation water strategy in order to ensure sustainability to the national irrigation system by reducing huge water losses.

The committee would also suggest ways and means to ensure that the national irrigation water strategy remains environmental friendly and preserves the ecology of the country, with special focus on the minimum required outflow of water below the Kotri barrage.

Constituted by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the PCWR comprises MNA Jehangir Khan Tareen from Punjab, MNA Sardar Ali Nawaz Khan Mahar from Sindh, MNA Sher Akbar Khan from NWFP, MNA Syed Abdul Qadir Jamaluddin Al-Gilani from Balochistan, Senator Mir Muhammad Naseer Mengal from Balochistan, Senator Syed Dilawar Abbas from Punjab and Senator Miss Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli from NWFP.