Says appropriate measures will taken to address water shortage in Punjab
Amraiz Khan
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday declared that making water shortage a political issue is contrary to the national interest as it is totally a technical issue, which can be resolved through constitution of joint teams of IRSA, comprising Punjab and Sindh representatives.
“Point-scoring by Sindh government over the water is regrettable, however, we are greatly concerned over water shortage in Punjab and will take appropriate measures to address the issue.”
Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was presiding over a high-level meeting held to water reserves and availability of water in the province.
Punjab Ministers including Mohsin Khan Leghari and Hussain Jehanian Gardezi, secretaries of irrigation and Agriculture departments along with other officers concerned attended the meeting.
On the occasion, a detailed briefing was given to the participants regarding prevailing water situation in the province.
The participants regretted point-scoring by Sindh and expressed its concern over water shortage in Punjab.
The CM stressed that Sindh’s objection to the provision of more water to Punjab is inaccurate, adding that water is continuously supplied to Sindh at the time of sowing of crops there, questioning when crops are being sown in Punjab, the hue and cry by Sindh is preposterous.
“Punjab can divert its water share to any canal according to the need and tested gauges have also been placed in Punjab to compile water data,” he said.
The CM, on the other hand, pointed out that there is no verified record of the collection of water data in Sindh.
He pointed out that Sindh earlier agreed to install the telemetry system but refused afterwards.
He asserted that the Sindh government is quoting wrong data on the issue of water; and due to the mismanagement of the Sindh government, water is still being released to the ocean from Kotri downstream.
He added that the Punjab government has sent a letter to IRSA to depute inspectors for ensuring correct reporting about water.
How can the issue of water shortage in Karachi be linked with Punjab as it has always taken care of every other province as an elder brother, the CM emphasized and suggested that politics over water issue is improper for everybody.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said that because of timely and effective measures taken by the PTI government, the ratio of positive corona cases is being decreased.
Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said corona cases have been decreased due to effective management and public cooperation also played an important role in this role.
The citizens should continue to follow precautions and vaccinate themselves for safety from this virus, he added.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the death of Liaqat Khan, brother of federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.
In a condolence message, the CM extended sympathies to the bereaved heirs and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.
