A high level meeting of the Taskforce on Water Scarcity and its Impact on Rabi and Kharif Crops was convened in Islamabad, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Water Resources, Mr. Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik.
Federal Minister Muhammad Mueen Wattoo steered the discussion toward the critical link between water availability and agricultural productivity, Mr. Wattoo underscored the need for immediate, coordinated measures to mitigate water scarcity—especially in light of its direct impact on seasonal crops.
The Taskforce deliberated on several key areas, including the promotion of rainwater harvesting, reduction of water wastage, and pilot interventions to support drought-affected farmers. Mr. Wattoo stressed the need for targeted, data-backed policies to address recurring shortages and strengthen the resilience of farming communities.
Dr. Musadik Malik inquired about the current water flow and storage levels across the country, covering both internal resources and cross-border inflows. He reiterated the importance of developing practical and forward-looking solutions to manage Pakistan’s existing and emerging water challenges.
He further emphasized the importance of strategic preparedness in case of any disruption to cross-border water flows, particularly considering evolving regional dynamics.
The two ministers jointly reviewed agricultural and domestic water demand, assessed the causes of recurring shortages, and examined year-on-year variances in water availability.
In a key directive, the Taskforce was instructed to compile and analyze hydrological and agricultural data from the past 40 years to detect long-term trends and support more informed, evidence-based policy decisions.
