Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, Federal Minister for Water Resources, today chaired the fourth meeting of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Kachhi Canal Phases II & III and RBOD-I & II. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Water Resources, underscored the government's commitment to accelerating the implementation of these critical water infrastructure projects.
The Chief Minister Sindh , Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti and Chairman WAPDA also Participated in this high level meeting alongwith other senior officials from the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI) Division. Representatives from the Governments of Punjab and Balochistan were also in attendance, highlighting the inter-provincial significance of the projects. This committee, constituted on January 24, 2024, by the Prime Minister of Pakistanis tasked with expediting the remaining phases of the Kachhi Canal and addressing structural and flood-related challenges in Balochistan, including the rehabilitation of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) systems.
During the deliberations, Federal Minister emphasized the urgent need to advance these projects without unnecessary delays, recognizing their strategic importance for the socio-economic uplift of Balochistan. Detailed discussions on the technical scope of the projects took place, with the concerns and views of both Chief Ministers fully considered.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the unanimous decision to form a Joint Technical Group headed by Additional Secretary Water Resources, comprising representatives from WAPDA, the Irrigation Department of Sindh, and the Irrigation Department of Balochistan. This group will be responsible for reconciling outstanding concerns, particularly those raised by the Government of Sindh, and proposing appropriate remedial measures. The Technical group shall submit its report within three weeks.
The meeting also resolved that a conditional PC-I for Kachhi Canal Phase-II will be submitted to the Planning Commission. If the Joint Working Group suggests changes to the project scope, these will be incorporated later in the PC-II.
The Federal Minister described the meeting as a “decisive step forward,” reiterating that the project is critical for agricultural and economic development in Balochistan. “There is no room for further delays. Timely execution will unlock economic opportunities for the region,” he said.
