June 14, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 09, 1429

KARACHI, June 13: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday was given a briefing on small dams at Bilawal House.

Later, Mr Zardari also greeted representatives of the PPP backed-People’s Workers Union, which had won the referendum in the Pakistan Steel Mills on Thursday.

The briefing was given by Project Director of the Small Dams Organization Khalid Hyder Memon, while Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Irrigation Minister Saifullah Dharejo, Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Revenue Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and others were present at the briefing.

“The people’s government is attaching high priority to small dams across the country to overcome the perpetual irrigation water shortage, which is affecting the national economy, which itself is based on agriculture,” said a statement summing up the content of the briefing.

It is learnt that the Sindh government plans to construct 32 small dams in the province and various feasibility studies have already been prepared in this connection.

It may be recalled that Pakistan, despite being a water-rich country, is currently facing a water shortage as its huge water resources remain underdeveloped, besides a poorly managed irrigation system.

The construction of new small dams could play a key role in the promotion of agriculture by bringing the maximum area under cultivation, which could usher in a ‘green revolution.’

Various multinational lending institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have also shown interest in financing the building of small dams in Pakistan.