ISLAMABAD, Mar 27 (APP): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here on Tuesday chaired the 36th meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) at PM Office. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Quddus Bizenjo attended the meeting. Punjab was represented by Minister Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha.
Chief Secretaries of all provinces and federal secretaries besides senior officials from Federal and Provincial Governments were also present.
Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, briefed the meeting in detail about the draft National Water Policy (NWP). It was emphasized that Pakistan is rapidly becoming a water-scarce country and obligations towards Sustainable Development Goals require adoption of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). Population growth and water demands for various sectors of the economy necessitate urgent measures to enhance storage capacity.
CCI was briefed that the draft NWP includes strategic initiatives and is in line with National Climate Change Policy 2012. It was informed that the draft NWP includes establishment of administrative bodies at the federal and provincial levels, including National Water Council, Provincial Water Authorities to improve coordination regarding water resource management.
There was a consensus amongst the participants on the need to adopt the National Water Policy. It was decided that the proposed policy would be brought in the next CCI meeting after incorporating suggestions from provinces for its final approval.
Secretary, Statistics Division presented an update on CCI’s earlier decision of carrying out a validation exercise of Census results 2017. The meeting reiterated that 5% validation exercise shall be undertaken through a third party as per the decision taken in CCI’s meeting held on 24th November, 2017.
Finance Secretary gave a detailed briefing on various subsidies being given by the Federal Government on different commodities including subsidy being provided to PASSCO for maintaining strategic wheat reserves, subsidy on essential items through Utility Stores Corporation, Ramzan Relief Package and support for export of wheat and sugar.
Pakistan Alliance for Mathematics and Science also gave a presentation on way forward for promoting science and mathematics education in the country.
APP/ Hamza/anm/VNS Islamabad
