LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has accused the PML-N government of destroying the agriculture sector by not undertaking small dams’ projects.

“The Punjab government has ruined the agriculture sector through its anti-farmer policies,” PML-Q senior leader Pervaiz Elahi said while talking to a delegation of farmers from Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock and Rawalpindi here on Friday.

He said during his tenure as chief minister (2002-07), 20 small dams were constructed at a cost of Rs10 billion which brought extra 20,000 acres of barren land of Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock and Rawalpindi under cultivation for the first time which changed the fate of the poor farmers.

He said Taunsa Barrage was repaired and expanded at a cost of Rs11 billion. This step had increased the capacity of canals of Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur from 7,000 cusecs to 9,000 cusecs and water theft in Punjab was checked and water was ensured by tail-end.

Pervaiz further said because of PML-Q’s revolutionary measures, Punjab registered a record increase in agricultural production and the people of the province were used to get wheat, rice, vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products at cheaper rates.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014