Provincial Secretary to the Public Health Engineering Department Mr. Saleh Mohammad Baloch met with the World Bank Team headed by Senior Water Specialist and Team lead BIWRDMP Mr. Yoro Sidibi. In the meeting Project Director BIWRDMP Engineer Barkat Ullah Kakar briefed about the project ongoing activities and said that a thorough and comprehensive study is underway for a project to address the potable and daily usage water for the inhabitants of the Quetta City and the adjacent vicinity areas. Moreover in the existing BIWRDMP project many projects of clean drinking water are completed in the two of 18 water basins of Balochistan.
The meeting was informed that demand of safe drinking water at Quetta is sprouting with every day lapse the current demand of water is 61 million gallons per day, but WASA is only supplying 3408 million gallons. Water scarcity in Balochistan in general, and particularly in Quetta, is arguably the most serious environmental disaster. The meeting was informed that the only dependable source of water for the inhabitants of Quetta is the ground water and continuous pumping have exhausted the natural phenomenon along with extreme weather conditions and climate change made it more serious.
The Secretary showed his gratitude to the World Bank assisted projects. He conveyed that Government of Balochistan is willing to provide maximum support as in reaching out the masses at grass root level and providing assistance to the very serious issue of water scarcity.
Provincial Secretary Irrigation Abdul Fateh Bhangar called upon a meeting with the World Bank team which was led by Team task leader for Balochistan Integrated water Resources Development and Management Project Mr. Yoro Sidibe. The Secretary was briefed by the project ongoing activities and the futuristic plan was discussed by the Team Lead and the Project Director of BIWRDMP Engineer. Barkat Ullah Kakar. Secretary applauded the efforts of the BIWRDMP team and said that the development work of the remaining schemes under the project shall be completed in a robust manner without compromising the quality. While assuring the team said all efforts will be made to complete the assigned activities within the timeframe.
The Secretary Irrigation was informed by the team Mr. Yoro Sidibe that the World Bank have in plan of starting another project of flood rehabilitation and reconstruction, with the scope of supporting the Government of Balochistan and the provision of an economic opportunity to the affected communities while ensuring social inclusion and participation. He said that this project will further strengthen institutional capacity in terms of preparedness and response to the future disasters. He said that World Bank is very well aware of the devastation and the loss which was caused by the last year havoc floods.
On this occasion, Secretary Irrigation Mr. Abdul Fateh Bhangar showed his appreciativeness to the World Bank team and their enduring efforts for making the BIWRDMP a successful project. He applauded the efforts of development partners but most specifically the World Bank in providing financial and technical assistance in uplifting various projects of the social and development sector. He expressed the hope that these efforts shall continue in the future.
Progress Review Meeting with PSIA Consultants under chairmanship of Secretary Irrigation.
Meeting for Hydromet Network Consultation for Development of Provincial Water Management Information System
The Progress Review Meeting held in PMU’s Committee Room on.15-06-2021. The meeting was chaired by the worthy Secretary, Irrigation Department and attended by the high-ups of the PSIAC. The contractors working on various ongoing civil works contracts under the Project were also invited to share the issues and problems which, in their opinion, were potentially hindering the smooth implementation process on their respective schemes. Healthy discussions were held in a friendly atmosphere and decisions were made on the spot to expedite the pace of progress but without compromising the quality. The minutes of the meeting were also recorded and circulated amongst the participants for follow up on agreed actions.