The federal government took decsion to tranfer the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) from the Ministry of Science and Technology and merge it with the Ministry of Water Resources.
The cabinet will take up the matter in meeting. However, the Ministry of Science and Technology has instructed to the authorities concerned that the PCRWR has been established through an Act of Parliament and it cannot be shifted from one ministry to another just through the cabinet’s approval.
Official of PCRWR said that government will have to make an adjustment to the PCRWR Act to shift it to another ministry. The government doesn’t have the required strength in Parliament to amend the Act.
The PCRWR is working in partnership with many international donor agencies and has signed numerous agreements with them. Any change in the status of this body will not only risk the fate of these agreements, but will bring a bad name to the country.
Official said th the Ministry of Science and Technology was playing a main role in research and development (R&D) of all areas of science including water resources through the PCRWR, while the Ministry of Water Resources had a major role in development of water resources.
PCRWR reach up to the level of provinces as well as local level whereas the Ministry of Water Resources was limited to the federal level, Wapda and other organizations mainly in Lahore.
In view of above , merging the PCRWR under the Ministry of Water Resources will be beneficial as it developed capacity and capabilities in its areas of mandate. Hence, it won’t be suitable or a practicable decision. However, the it can well assist the Ministry of Water Resources as an independent think tank in best national interest related to provision of required human and financial resources.
Spokesperson for Ministry of Science and Technology confirmed that the government had decided that PCRWR merge with the Ministry of Water Resources. He further could not comment on the matter because the decision had been taken at the federal cabinet level.