Speaking in a PTV programme, the minister quoted President General Pervez Musharraf's speeches in public meetings in Sindh, and said the country would construct new big water reservoirs.
Ameer Muqam said: "Pakistan is an agrarian country and water is lifeline for the agriculture sector."
After 1976, no significant addition could be made in water sector, he said adding, big water reservoirs should have been constructed. Unfortunately, past regimes of the country did not give due attention towards the issue.
State Minister said silting problem had also negatively affected the country's water capacity.
He said President General Pervez Musharraf gave proper attention towards the issue and a number of projects had already been started in the country in this regard. He said, efforts were also being made to increase per acre yield in the country, adding that better water availability was must for the goal.
To a query he said two committees were constituted to remove the reservations of all the provinces, which would soon submit their reports. In the light of their recommendations, decision about the construction of big dams would be taken, he added.
Committees were also trying to remove misunderstandings created about the construction of these dams. The construction of Kalabagh and Bhasha dams was imperative to speed up pace of economic development of the country, he added.
He said maximum water potential of the country should be utilised.
In response to an other question, he said construction of Kalabagh dam would also be beneficial to Sindh, adding that without water capacity enhancement, desired pace of development could not be achieved.
He warned that the country may face worst water shortage in near future if the issue was not timely addressed.
The State Minister said, water availability was decreasing in the country while demand was increasing with the passage of time.
To a question he said work on Kalabagh dam could be started immediately, as consensus was developed among all the concerned stakeholders.
He said the government allocated Rs 60 billion for water related projects and work was going on in all the four provinces.
Nearly eight million acre feet water more would be available in the country with the completion of these projects, he added.