ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The planning and development division has issued a clarification regarding a news item published in Dawn issue of Sept 29, saying that Pakistan will be facing a financial gap of around Rs336 billion for the construction of 10 mega irrigation and water storage projects.

According to the clarification, the water sector mega projects have been planned to be completed within five to seven years for additional water availability and to bring additional area under cultivation.

Adequate financial allocations have been made for completion of the projects within the 10-year Perspective Development Plan (2001-11).

The plan is rolled over every year on the basis of monitoring and review of various projects, it says.