ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: All-out efforts are needed to enhance the availability of water in the country as the commodity has direct bearing on all the socio-economic sectors.

This was stated by Rehman Naseer Chaudhry while presiding over a meeting of the National Assembly's standing committee on science and technology, held at the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) headquarters on Monday.

The committee chairman stressed not only to enhance water availability but also to keep its quality at the highest level to help improve crops productivity as well as the health standards.

Earlier, PCRWR Chairman Dr Mohammad Akram Kahlown gave a briefing to the committee on the council's research activities and achievements in various sectors of water resources.

Dr Kahlown particularly mentioned the PCRWR's achievements in rainwater harvesting in the Cholistan Desert by collecting rainwater in scientifically developed ponds. These ponds are good to store enough water for the inhabitants of the desert and their herds, he added.

He also highlighted the council's efforts aimed at creating mass awareness of drinking water quality. He said the PCRWR had published test results of water samples collected from over 300 points in 21 cities, six rivers, 10 reservoirs and lakes of the country.

He made particular reference to the council's random testing of bottled water available in the market which revealed that most of the brands were having bacterial and other contamination.

The chairman also gave details of the PCRWR's production of arsenic removing kits and low-cost filters which had proved helpful in reducing the hazards of arsenic contamination. He also mentioned the council's achievements regarding introduction of high-efficiency irrigation technologies to save water.

Mr Kahlown said the council had carried out successful research on determination of water requirement of major crops in two agro-climatic zones of irrigated areas under different water table conditions.

The committee also visited the water quality labs of the PCRWR and remarked that good quality water was essential for the health as well as economic well being of the community.

Our reporter adds: National Assembly standing committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Tuesday conveyed its displeasure over what it said the rude behaviour of National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) Chairman with MNA Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi.

The committee which met here under the chairmanship of Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dreshak, to consider five different privilege motions moved by MNAs Nisar Ahmad Panwar, Meer Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi, Fauzia Habib and Fazle Subhan.

The committee termed it a clear breach of privilege of the MNA as well as the National Assembly. It, therefore, decided to recommend strict disciplinary action against the NTC chairman.

The Committee while discussing the privilege motion of Nisar Ahmad Panwar regarding misbehaviour of DPO/ASI, Dadu district, expressed its displeasure on the absence of District Police Officer, Dadu from the meeting.

Sardar Dreshak directed the Home Department of Sindh to direct the DPO, Dadu to appear in the next meeting of the committee. The committee also summoned the Executive Engineer (Irrigation) Larkana district, SSP investigation, Larkana along with relevant staff to appear before the committee in connection with the privilege motion of MNA Meer Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, on registration of false case against father of the MNA on complaint of Irrigation Department, Larkana.