QUETTA: A top-level provincial government meeting was informed here on Tuesday that efforts were under way to end shortage of drinking water in the provincial capital and other areas of province through speedy completion of under-construction dams and water schemes.

The meeting reviewed pace of on-going water projects of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Federal Secretary for Water Muhammad Ashraf told the meeting that water projects had been given special importance under the federal government’s development programme for Balochistan as the federal government wanted to increase capacity of water reservoirs in the province.

He said that timely issuance of funds for these water schemes would be ensured by the federal government for speedy completion of these projects.

Pace of ongoing water projects of the Public Sector Development Programme discussed

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani said that due to lack of dams thousands of feet of water was wasted in the province every year and if dams were constructed at appropriate places, flood water could be stored for its later utilisation for agriculture and drinking purposes.

Besides, he said, speedy construction of these dams would help increase underground water level in the province.

The chief minister said that Balochistan was a vast province and completion of these water schemes would ensure prosperity of the people and improve their living standard.

Mr Alyani directed the formation of a coordination committee consisting of provincial and federal government officials to ensure fast completion of water schemes in the province.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2019