ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Planning and Development Prof. Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for resolving the ecological issues of Manchar Lake on priority basis. “Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform is fully committed to early completion of RBOD-II project which will provide a safe disposal to drainage water to the sea,” he said while chairing a meeting on the master plan for resolving the ecological issues of Manchar Lake.–STAFF REPORTER

  He advised the Sindh and Balochistan governments to resolve amicably the issues of RBOD III by taking local inhabitants into confidence.
The meeting of Chief Secretaries of Governments of Sindh and Balochistan should be held at earliest to decide what amount of effluent will be conveyed from RBOD-III drain to RBOD-I and treatment of water, he added.
The ecological issues of Manchar Lake were discussed in detail in consonance with the order of Supreme Court which has directed the relevant governmental organisations to resolve the ecological issues of Manchar Lake at the earliest.
Widespread contamination of Manchar Lake water has become an issue of environmental degradation which has affected local populace in terms of loss of livelihood and deprivation of fresh drinking water.
The representatives of relevant organisation, including Ministry of Water and Power, Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, WAPDA and Sindh Irrigation Department were present in the meeting.