As water has become increasingly scarce, the development and rehabilitation-oriented approach of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure to deliver water is no longer sustainable. Moreover, water for agricultural production is increasingly scarce, reflecting increased competition from industrial and urban consumption, inefficiencies persist in water control and management of large barrages and irrigation distribution systems.

Federal Government and Water Resource Management

Improved water resources management is a priority policy of the Federal Government. The Federal Government plays an important role in establishing the overall framework and guidelines for the provincial-level operation in the sector, and has made attempts at promoting better water allocation, planning and management. The most recent comprehensive statements on water are:

Draft National Water Policy (Ministry of Water and Power, 2001)
Water Sector Strategy (Ministry of Water and Power, 2002)
Vision 2025 (Water and Power Development Authority, 2001)
National Drainage Strategy and Programme.

The recent Government’s poverty reduction strategy has recognized the irrigation sub sector and explicitly calls for improved irrigation water delivery and the efficiency, governance, water pricing, rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

The Government is therefore seeking technical assistance from FAO through its Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) for pre-investment activities required for a timely preparation of the proposed WSIP. Moreover, FAO is uniquely placed to provide the needed specialized technical assistance to the GOVT. of Sindh