RAWALPINDI, Sept 30: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday called for efficient management of water resources and reduction of losses so that the country’s precious resources could be preserved and optimally utilized.

The president made these remarks while presiding over a meeting here on Tuesday in which the participants were given a comprehensive briefing on the various means for efficient use of the existing water resources, with particular reference to brick lining and improvement of watercourses.

During the presentation, Jahangir Ashraf Tareen, MNA, gave an overview of how, through an effective government-farmer partnership, the losses accrued in water delivery through watercourses could be reduced by brick lining and their improvement. Of a total of 138,517 watercourses in the country, he said, over 100,000 were katcha.

He said that under the existing programmes 13,410 watercourses were already being lined and improved, and there was still a need for the improvement of over 86,000 watercourses, which would result in a saving of approximately 8 MAF of water.

The participants of the meeting were informed that lining of watercourses could not be a substitute for additional water storage facilities which in any way needed to be constructed. However, both would complement each other.

They were also briefed about the numerous economic benefits which would result from these initiatives, including injection of substantial revenue into the rural economy and boost to cement- and brick-making industries. Being highly labour intensive, these projects would also help create job opportunities and alleviate poverty, particularly in the rural areas.