The Senate Standing Committee for Water Resources expressed its displeasure on Friday over the ministry's failure to act on directions issued in the previous meeting.
The committee reprimanded the ministry for its lack of response to a formal letter that followed.
The panel convened to address the alarming issue of the depleting groundwater levels across the country.
During the session, Secretary of Water Resources pointed out the growing scarcity, revealing that two key instruments were currently in use to monitor the situation.
The secretary briefed the committee on the Water and Power Development Authority's (WAPDA) role in utilising observation wells to track groundwater levels.
WAPDA operates a total of 8,953 observation wells, of which 4,982 are functional, while the remaining 3,971 are non-operational.
In Punjab, the Irrigation Department employs piezometers to measure groundwater. The Secretary informed the committee that 3,237 piezometers have been installed, with 1,906 functioning and 1,331 out of order.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Musadik Malik informed the committee that the ministry was responsible for generating 40% of the country's electricity. He also pointed out the limitations faced by the federal government in enforcing laws if the provinces do not cooperate.
He suggested that the committee should summon provincial representatives and chief ministers to discuss the issue.
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