The flood cycles after torrential rains and Monsoon season, have been causing a lot of chaos since the past decade or so in various areas of Pakistan. The irrigation system of cultivatable lands has been devastated due to ever changing and increasing ratio of water discharge on a gradually rising pace over the past few years and the consequent mud and silt repletion.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform was chairing a presentation by Irrigation Department of Punjab, jointly attended by Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Science & Technology & Defense Production, and Mr. Zahid Hamid, Federal Minister for Climate Change. During the discourse, Rana Tanvir Hussain shared his serious concerns with the Federal Ministers and rest of the participants of the meeting, over the delay in various irrigation projects, planned for flood water containment.
It was observed by the Ministers that the proposal presented before the panel had technical deficiencies and needed to be radically changed to account for ground realities and its implications. While sharing his views with the Federal Ministers, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Science & Technology & Defense Production said, “Geographically, Pakistan is prone to be impacted from climate change. Hence the reason for creating a full fledge Ministry for Climate Change by the Government of Pakistan. This shows that the Government is serious in addressing these naturally occurring issues.”
“However, things have not been materialized as they should have been. If a project proposed in the year 2000 is still being discussed in 2016, it shows severe lack of interest and initiative from the departments concerned, which is a serious matter because floods are not a matter to be taken lightly or be left to procrastinating habits. It is a very grave national issue and the departments concerned should take it up with a very serious and professional approach.” Rana Tanvir Hussain added. “We also need to convert these decade old proposals into a workable plan, so maximum work can be done in shortest possible time,” said Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Science & Technology & Defense Production.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform and Mr. Zahid Hamid, Federal Minister for Climate Change also agreed with issues pointed out by Rana Tanveer, Federal Minister for Science & Technology & Defense Production. The Irrigation Department, Punjab has been directed to take up these projects on priority bases and report back within ten working days with practically viable solutions.
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