14 مارچ 2025ء |
No.PAP/Legis-1(19)/2024/303
Notification of Special Committee No. 10
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB
N O T I F I C A T I O N
March 14, 2025
SPECIAL COMMITTEE NO. 10
WATER GOVERNANCE
No.PAP/Legis-1(19)/2024/303. In exercise of the powers vested in him under rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997, Speaker, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab has been pleased to constitute Special Committee No. 10 comprising the following:
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Mr Muhammad Kazim Pirzada, Minister for Irrigation
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Mr Shafay Hussain, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment
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Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan, MPA (PP-184)
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Mr Ahmad Khan, MPA (PP-87)/Leader of Opposition
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Mr Sami Ullah Khan, MPA (PP-145)
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Mr Zulfiqar Ali Shah, MPA (PP-96)
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Mr Amjad Ali Javed, MPA (PP-121)
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Mr Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhary, MPA (PP-54)
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Mr Saeed Akbar Khan, MPA (PP-93)
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Mr Sher Ali Khan, MPA (PP-4)
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Mr Shaukat Raja, MPA (PP-9)
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Mr Mumtaz Ali, MPA (PP-266)
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Mr Mushtaq Ahmed, MPA (PP-26)
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Mr Ahmer Bhatti, MPA (PP-165)
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2.The following may assist the Special Committee in discharge of its functions as expert advisors:
i. Mr Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari, Ex-Senator and Ex-MPA, Punjab Assembly
ii. Secretary, Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Islamabad
iii. Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Islamabad
iv. Secretary to Government of the Punjab, Irrigation Department
v. Mr Usama Khawar Ghumman, Advisor to Speaker, Punjab Assembly
3.The Committee may coopt any other member or expert advisor.
TORs
4.The Special Committee shall undertake a comprehensive review of water governance in Punjab, through:
i. Assessment of water scarcity and its implications for agriculture, industry, and domestic use.
ii. Evaluation of the water-use policy framework and infrastructure, including irrigation systems and reservoir networks.
iii. Examining the Water Apportionment Accord 1991, Punjab Water Act 2019, National Water Policy 2018, and Punjab Water Policy and any other law and policy which governs water resources and usage in the province.
iv. Reviewing the feasibility, sustainability, and socio-economic impact of the Cholistan Canal Project.
v. Identifying key policy, legislative, and administrative reformsnecessary to improve water governance in Punjab.
Contd….P/2
SCOPE OF WORK
5.The Committee shall:
i. Conduct hearings, consultations, and expert briefings to gather technical evidence on Punjab’s water resources.
ii. Examine the current legal and policy framework governing water resources in Punjab and recommend necessary amendments.
iii. Assess the impact of climate change on water availability and propose mitigation strategies.
iv. Review water allocation mechanisms and suggest measures to enhance equitable distribution.
v. Investigate the efficiency and sustainability of Punjab’s irrigation systems and propose improvements.
vi. Examine the role of local government and relevant departments in water governance and recommend institutional enhancements.
vii. Evaluate the sustainability of water infrastructure projects.
viii. Propose actionable recommendations for improving interprovincial coordination on water management.
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
6.The Committee shall have the authority to:
• Summon officials, experts, and stakeholders to provide testimony or submit documents.
• Conduct site visits to assess water infrastructure projects, including the Cholistan Canal Project.
• Accept public petitions relevant to water governance and address grievances within its mandate.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
7.The Committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab within a period of two (2) months. The report shall include:
• A comprehensive assessment of water governance challenges and opportunities in Punjab.
• Recommendations for legal, policy, and institutional reforms.
• Proposed strategies for improving water efficiency and conservation.
• Findings on the feasibility and impact of the Cholistan Canal Project.
• An implementation roadmap with short-term and long-term policy actions.
IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM
8.The following shall be the implementation mechanism with regard to the findings and recommendations of the Committee:
• The concerned government departments shall be required to respond to the Committee’s findings within forty-five (45) days of the report’s submission.
• The Speaker may direct the Assembly Secretariat to facilitate periodic reviews of the implementation of Committee recommendations.
• The Committee may propose a follow-up mechanism to ensure effective enforcement of proposed water governance reforms.
BY ORDER OF SPEAKER
CH AMER HABIB
Secretary General
