RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Monday said an improved water management system and the use of modern agriculture techniques in arid areas could help make barren lands fertile.

The minister stated this while chairing a meeting at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.

The Arid varsity’s vice chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, senior officials of the university and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) were also present on the occasion.

A senior official of the university told Dawn that the purpose of the minister’s visit was to inspect the capacity of the horticulture department of the university for improving the landscape of sports ground in the federal capital.

Furthermore, the minister was briefed about the Punjab government’s efforts to improve water management for irrigation and crop-water productivity.

The minister emphasized the need of rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation to solve the problems of water scarcity.

The meeting decided that PSB and the Arid university would sign a memorandum of understanding under which they would cooperate in the area of rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, and improving landscape of sport’s grounds in Islamabad.

He said that there was a need of capacity building programmes to promote water management system and urged young scientists to come up with solutions to the issues being faced by nation.

He appreciated the Arid university’s efforts for introducing modern techniques of water management to make barren lands productive.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, the vice chancellor of the university, assured the minister of full cooperation to the minister.

He recommended that it was time to increase investments in water reservoirs, improving water management, irrigation and crop cultivation; introducing rainwater harvesting and launch of mass awareness campaigns.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016