ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has directed the ministries of water & power and food & agriculture to increase overall agricultural production, especially of wheat, by effectively and properly utilizing irrigation water.

Informed sources told Dawn that the prime minister, expressing concern over regular import of wheat, said self-sufficiency must be achieved by improving various irrigation methods.

In this regard, both the president and the prime minister have directed the officials concerned to establish programme management units at federal and provincial levels for carrying out 'national programme for improvement of watercourses in Pakistan' within the stipulated time.

The overall objective is to ensure increasing agricultural production by effective utilization of irrigation water through watercourses, strengthening farmers' participation for better management of water levels and promoting increased employment opportunities in the rural sector by improving all the remaining watercourses in four years time.

The proposed programme is in line with the objectives of the long-term perspective plan under the sub-sectors agriculture and water resources. An amount of Rs10.6 billion has been earmarked for water management and other related projects.

Sources said according to the development plan following the Water Accord, there shall be emphasis on integrated/management of agriculture, irrigation and drainage leading to effective use of land and water resources.