18 April 2005	Monday	08 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 17: The Agricultural Research Service of USDA and Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) have agreed in principle to expand the scope of the ongoing project on “Integrated Water Resources Management in Pakistan”. According to a press release, the project is being implemented by the two organizations under the joint protocol of US-Pakistan Cooperation in Science and Technology.

The expansion of the scope is an outcome of detailed discussions held between the PCRWR and the visiting 6-member delegation of US scientists, said Dr Muhammad Akram Kahlown, Chairman PCRWR.

Giving details of the expansion, the chairman said the project was earlier designed to develop a programme to improve irrigation methods, drainage and water management, re-vegetate watersheds and control erosion, sedimentation in reservoirs and channel and increase recharge to ground water besides transfer of technology to PCRWR and other allied departments.

Now it will cover additional aspects including development of database for application of regional scale water models for assessing the impact of management practices for surface and ground water quality and quantity, he added.

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources chief further pointed out evaluation of the potential use of plant materials for reducing erosion and sediment transport from watersheds and increase in on-farm irrigation efficiencies through improved technology and crop and water management strategies will also come under the framework of this project after expansion of the scope.

It will also provide opportunity to increase farm productivity

by using saline water through appropriate crop selection

and saline water management besides monitoring of

water quality with improved analyse agricultural chemical residues.

The revised design with a much wider scope will bring positive results to the water sector and help address many problems confronting this vital national resource, he added.