Quetta, July 15, 2024 – Quetta, July 15, 2024 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations organized the 3rd consultative meeting on the Balochistan Water Act on July 11 in Quetta, bringing together representatives from the Government of Balochistan and the World Bank. The act is being developed under the World Bank-funded Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project (BIWRMDP).
The implementation of the Balochistan Water Act will strengthen institutional frameworks to support Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), ensuring sustainable and equitable water resource allocation, enhancing capacity for effective water governance, promoting gender-inclusive water management practices, and developing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
Hafiz Abdul Majid, Secretary Irrigation, emphasized that this collaborative effort between the Government of Balochistan, FAO, and the World Bank is essential for addressing the water challenges facing Balochistan and will have a lasting impact on water governance and resource management.
Waleed Mahdi, International Program Coordinator and Head of Office, FAO Balochistan, noted that the Balochistan Water Act is crucial for sustainable and equitable water resource management and will strengthen institutional frameworks for effective, inclusive water governance, benefiting the people of Balochistan.
Dr. Robina Wahaj, Senior Land and Water Officer, FAO, highlighted that the act is a significant step towards sustainable water management in the region, ensuring efficient and equitable water resource management for all stakeholders.
The meeting was also attended by; Najeeb Babri, Chief Foreign Aid, Government of Balochistan; Nasir Majeed, Chief Engineer Canals, Government of Balochistan; Barkat Ullah Kakar, Program Director; Stephen Hodgson, International Legal Consultant, FAO; Talal Naseer, Integrated Water Resource Management Expert; and Carlo Alberto Amadei, Team Leader, World Bank.