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LAKKI MARWAT: Speakers at a function here on Friday called upon the people to conserve wetlands to provide a natural habitat to water birds and promote recreational facilities.
The function was arranged by the wildlife department, Bannu division, to mark the World Wetlands Day.
The speakers included district forest officer (DFO) Khan Malook Khan, range officers Nomanullah and Arifullah Dawar and in-charge of Bannu peasantry Moammad Amir Khan. Members of schools’ nature clubs, teachers and conservationists attended the event.
“The wetlands are helpful in controlling floods and maintaining good water quality in rivers,” said Mr Malook.
He highlighted the importance of wetlands for human, fish and wildlife survival and said the sites were also important for promoting biodiversity.
“The wetlands provide water, food and building material and are also helpful in maintaining and protecting the ecosystem,” he maintained.
Other speakers urged the participants to play role in conserving wetlands for the benefit of humans and animals alike.
IRRIGATION SCHEME: Former MNA Humayun Saifullah Khan has said work on converting Gambila lift irrigation scheme to solar power will start soon to promote agriculture in the backward district.
This he said while talking to a delegation of farmers in Ghaznikhel, according to a statement.
The delegation apprised the former lawmaker about the problems faced by growers and urged him to use his influence in resolving them.
Saifullah Khan said the Southern Area Development Project (SADP) had formulated a plan to put the irrigation scheme on solar power at a cost of Rs150million.
“The lift irrigation scheme cannot operate effectively due to excessive power outages, thus badly impacting the agriculture sector,” he maintained, saying the growers also faced shortage of water for irrigation purpose.
He said the conversion of irrigation scheme to solar power would make it fully functional enabling the farmers to have sufficient water for irrigating their lands.
Published in Dawn February 4th, 2017
