KARACHI: Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair said on Thursday K-IV water project’s first phase will be completed this year. Its second phase would be started soon while another scheme for potable water supply has been included in Karachi Development Package

“We must all join hands to work for improving access to water for the poor and landless by maximizing water use efficiency, financing the urban and rural water economies and the water value chain, safe guarding the Indus Basin, its aquifers and its infrastructure, improving water governance and management of water institutions, building a base for science, technology and the social aspects of water,” he said.

This he said while talking with a three-member delegation of Hisaar Foundation at Governor House here today. The delegation included Ashraf Kapadia, Ms Simi Kamal and Zohair Ashir.

The Sindh governor said that there was an urgent need to create awareness about the use of water with care. Farmers must also be guided and trained to use irrigation water according to the requirements of soil and avoid it’s over usage or wasting the same, he opined.

He said that we must all join hands to work for improving access to water for the poor and landless by maximizing water use efficiency, financing the urban and rural water economies and the water value chain, safe guarding the Indus Basin, its aquifers and its infrastructure, improving water governance and management of water institutions, building a base for science, technology and the social aspects of water.

Governor Sindh said that securing the future of water, we must act now to develop young people to take over by training them to conserve and manage water. The water sector in Pakistan needs focus and direction which will result in the enhancement of water economy and enable all the provinces and regions of Pakistan to collaborate in the implementation of national plan of action, he observed, he added.

He said that reversing the trends of water pollution, wasteful water use and consumption, irresponsible mining of groundwater, sea-water intrusion and managing other related problems were of paramount importance. The national water policy prepared by the Foundation would be very helpful in ensuring effective usage of available water and preserving the same for our next generations, he said in a statement issued to PPI, adding that the government assigns great importance to safe drinking water, sanitation, agriculture, rural and urban development. Cooperation between provincial government, local and municipal bodies is needed to manage water under cohesive and well thought out water strategies and plans, he added.

On the occasion Ms. Simi Kamal briefed the governor about the challenges of water sector, their solutions and way forward. She opined that immediate actions were needed to conserve precious water for our next generations. She also highlighted salient features of National Water policy drafted by her Foundation.