KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that river stem model of the Indus basin in Pakistan for modelling the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord will be useful for exploring different interpretations of provincial sharing arrangements as well as understanding the potential impacts of climate change and dam sedimentation on Sindh’s water security.

He said this while discussing the accord and modelling with the Australian Aid delegation of water experts led by Australian High Commissioner Margret Adamson here on Thursday.

The other members of the delegation included the mission’s first secretary Emma Leahey, Muawaz Kazmi of the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR), and experts Hamza Khalid and Dr Mobin Ahmad.

The chief minister was assisted by his special assistant Ashfaq Memon, principal secretary Sajid Jamal Abro and irrigation officials Zareef Iqbal Khero and M. Shahbaz.

The delegation gave a presentation to the CM on the collaborative work that was done as part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on water between the two governments. The work pertained to a river stem model of the Indus basin and the associated tool for modelling the 1991 Accord. The chief minister appreciated Australians’ efforts.

The two sides also discussed the ‘water sector task force report’ which outlined a range of significant pressures and issues facing the Indus basin in Pakistan. The report calls for requirement of a system/evidence base to quantify the major water balance terms and then an objective plan for climate change, infrastructure ($26 billion proposed investment), development, food and economic security and secure, productive and sustainable cities.

They also stressed on building knowledge and capacity of the officers concerned and recommended implementation of Australian water management technologies and associated capacity-building measures.

It was noted that the integrated water resource assessment, data management, modelling and capacity building were necessary to support national water planning and policy development.

It was also observed that the scenarios and outlook of agricultural production, food security, water use and livelihood outcomes under changing climate, increasing population and infrastructure development should be part of the plan.

The Australians recommended Indus Integrated Modelling Frame­work (IIMF) for which they suggested that surface water allocation should be made by working out seasonal forecast by assessing climate and historic and future rainfall, snowfall and glaciers.

The surface water allocation should be made keeping in view the demand-based, on-field scale of irrigation, hydro power and urban and environmental requirements based on availability of groundwater (fresh and saltish). Trend analysis may also be done for water availability and use, agriculture production and population growth.

The chief minister asked water experts in the irrigation department to engage with the Australian experts in working out further details of the model so that it could be implemented in the larger interest of the people of Sindh.

PPP lawmakers ask Dr Fehmida to help end water crisis

BADIN: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers have asked Federal Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza to raise voice before the federal government against worsening water crisis in Sindh in general and in the tail-end district of Badin in particular.

PPP MNA Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, MPAs Bashir Ahmed Halepoto and Tanzila Qambrani, Badin District Council chairman Ali Asghar Halepoto told journalists after a meeting in Matli that the committee formed by Sindh government would resolve the water crisis.

They said that Dr Mirza should play the role as required by her portfolio and persuade the federal bodies to release Sindh’s share of water so that Badin could also receive water for Kharif crops. “It is easy to blame Sindh government by issuing press statements but very difficult to serve people,” they said.

They said that Akram Wah had had a design fault since the day it was commissioned and because of the faults the channel had always to be supplied additional water through cuts near Alipur regulator from Phuleli Canal.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2019