Islamabad, January 4; In a bid to highlight the difference of opinion among provinces on water issues and to open the way for dialogue, PILDAT arranged a Roundtable Discussion for Parliamentarians on Inter-Provincial Water Issues in Pakistan.

Leading water experts from all provinces including Mr. Muhammad Idrees Rajput, former Secretary Irrigation Sindh, Mr. Mohammad Amin, member IRSA, Balochistan, Ch. Mazhar Ali, former Adviser Irrigation Department, Punjab and Mr. Shams-ul-Mulk, former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly NWFP) and former Chairman WAPDA, made presentations on different view points on inter provincial water issues. A background paper, prepared by PILDAT and approved by a PILDAT-facilitated inter-provincial Steering Committee of water experts, was also shared with Parliamentarians at the Roundtable discussion.

It was unanimously agreed that discussions at different forums among all stakeholders, and candid dialogue is only way forward to resolve the disputes and Parliamentarians can play a very important role in this regard. Trust deficit among provinces is the biggest hurdle and Parliamentarians should work for creating consensus in this regard.

Parliamentarians present at the occasion took keen interest in the discussion and raised questions to the Water Experts and promised to do their utmost to create awareness among the masses.

Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT, while opening the session, said that the effort is to highlight and raise the issue, open it for debate and create awareness among the masses. He said the ultimate objective is to resolve such issues through sustained and informed dialogue.

A number of parliamentarians participated in the Roundtable and actively took part in discussion and question answer session. Key parliamentarians including Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, MNA, PML, NA-158 Khanewal-III, Punjab, Sardar Muhammad Arshad Khan Laghari, MNA, PML-NA-Rahimyar Khan-VI, Punjab, Mr. Kishan Chand Parwani, MNA, PML, Muhammad Baleegh-ur-Rehman, MNA, PML-N, NA-185 Bahawalpur-III, Punjab, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, MNA, PPPP, NA-212 Naushero Feroze-II, Sindh, Malak Azmat Khan, MNA, PPPP, NA-34 Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Bhutta, MNA, PML-N, NA-127 Lahore-X, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, MNA, PML-N, Punjab, Engr. Usman Khan Tarakai, MNA, Independent, NA-12 Swabi-I, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chaudhry Saud Majeed, MNA, PML-N, NA-187, Bahawalpur-V, Punjab and Senator Suriya Amiruddin, member of the Senate from Balochistan as well as member of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Special Education took part in the Roundtable discussion.