November 10, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: The federal government expressing dissatisfaction over the pace of work on the second flood control project has directed all the provinces to expedite it at the earliest.

Federal Water and Power Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao conveyed the directives of the Centre to the provinces during a meeting held here last week to review progress on the Rs4.61 billion Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project for flood control.

The meeting was informed that only five per cent of the work has been completed and the project was moving at a snail’s pace.

The minister asked the provinces to sign contracts with local governments and NGOs for community mobilization regarding the project by Nov 25.

He emphasized the need for making arrangements to handle any emergency during the flood season and install sensors at Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan and Zhob to ensure accurate river flow data.

Bank representative Marshouk Ali Shah noted with satisfaction that Rs275 million have been allocated by the government for flood control project under Public Sector Development Programme.

The project has been allocated Rs800 million by Punjab, Rs300 million by Sindh, Rs200 million by the NWFP and Rs180 million by Balochistan.

Representatives of the four provinces, Wapda, finance division, planning division and meteorological department also attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that so far model testing of spurs along River Indus in the NWFP.