Islamabad: The government has increased the budget for water sector up to PKR 64.62 billion, according to a news report. The budget allocation for fiscal year 2017-18 was PKR 36.75 billion. The amount is one-tenth of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
This is the highest budget for the water sector under the current government. The National Water Policy had recommended increasing water sector fund allocation up to 10% of the federal development programme in 2018-19, raising it up to 20% by 2030.
According to an official working with Ministry of Water Resources, one of the major reasons behind the current water crisis in Pakistan is inadequate allocation for water sector in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Out of the proposed total allocation for the next financial year, an amount of PKR 33.48 billion, about 52% of the total water sector allocation, has been proposed for the construction of large, medium, and small dams. The funds have allocation of PKR 23.68 billion for Diamer-Bhasha dam and PKR 7.82 billion for small, check and delay action dams all over the country.
