ECNEC Approves Key Projects for Balochistan, Including Water Security and Infrastructure Improvements

Quetta:An important meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) was held via video link under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting was attended by federal and provincial officials, including Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, as well as members of the ECNEC from Balochistan, including Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umarani, and other key officials.

The meeting discussed the progress, costs, and challenges of ongoing and new projects under federal administration across the provinces. One of the major discussions focused on the **Balochistan Water Security Improvement Project (BWSPIP)** in the Kachhi Basin, which was highlighted by Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umarani. He emphasized the project’s significance in protecting thousands of acres of land from floods, making barren land cultivable, and boosting the livelihood of farmers. He stated that this project would help prevent damage to crops from seasonal floods in the Murri and Bugti hill torrents.

Umarani also pointed out that in many areas of the Naseerabad Division, the lack of underground water sources forces locals to rely on canal water for their daily water needs. The completion of the project will provide clean drinking water to thousands of people.

Another key project discussed was the **Improvement of Quetta Water Supply**, under which the city of Quetta will receive additional clean drinking water. Mir Muhammad Sadiq Umarani highlighted that Quetta’s population of 3.1 million faces severe water scarcity, with a daily demand of 62 million gallons of water. Currently, WASA provides only 30 million gallons per day, and many residents depend on private tube wells and other sources.

Umarani explained that while 90% of the tube wells in the city are operational, most of them have a reduced capacity of just 35 gallons per minute. Additionally, these tube wells are prone to filling with sediment, requiring regular maintenance. He also pointed out that power outages further complicate the water supply situation.

To address these issues, a **Feasibility Study** was commissioned under the **Balochistan Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Project** to improve Quetta’s water supply system. The completion of this project would provide an additional 20 million gallons of water per day, significantly improving the water situation in the city.

The meeting also discussed the **Bela Hub Road Project** in the Awaran district, noting that its construction will improve travel facilities for local residents and reduce traffic congestion on the Coastal Highway.

The ECNEC meeting approved all three major projects from Balochistan, expressing confidence that their timely completion will contribute to the region’s development.

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