The federal government is close to finalizing the IRSA Act Amendments 2024, a move that could significantly reshape the Indus River System Authority (IRSA). The draft legislation, reportedly supported by President Asif Ali Zardari, aims to address water distribution issues that have long been contentious, particularly between Punjab and Sindh.
The proposed amendments to the IRSA Act of 1992 include structural changes that would place the authority under greater federal control. This would mark a significant shift from the current system, which is based on the Water Apportionment Accord of 1991, signed during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure. Key changes include the introduction of a vice-chairman position and a new mandate that the IRSA chairman be a senior federal government official, with the Prime Minister holding the power to appoint or remove the chairman.
The IRSA Act Amendments 2024 also propose the establishment of an independent experts committee to aid in water regulation and management. This committee would include specialists in hydrology, remote sensing, and GIS technologies to ensure more effective water resource management.
The term Green Pakistan generally refers to initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, conservation, and reforestation in Pakistan. This includes efforts to increase forest cover, reduce pollution, and enhance biodiversity.
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Interprovincial water distribution, particularly between Sindh and Punjab, has been a contentious issue for years. The amendments are seen as an attempt to streamline this process, though they arrive at a time of heightened political sensitivity, with PPP and PML-N working together at the federal level.
