KARACHI, Oct 15: The World Bank would provide US$80 million in December this year for lining of 4,000 water courses in Sindh.

This was stated by leader of the visiting WB mission Usman Qamar during a meeting with provincial Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi here on Wednesday.

The existing situation of on-farm water management was thoroughly discussed at the meeting.

The minister told the team that substantial progress had been made by his department towards attainment of extensive WB requirements with regard to the granting of assistance. Mr Qamar expressed satisfaction over the progress.

It has been proposed that lining of at least 4,000 new water courses would be carried out with the WB assistance all over Sindh.

Welcoming the World Bank’s interest in the project, the minister said that such projects would bring a revolution in the agriculture sector. Besides, he added, job opportunities would be created while the project would be implemented. He pledged that 20 per cent of the jobs would be reserved for women.

He said the project would help increase the existing land-holdings and also enable the government to bring additional land under cultivation with an expected 25-30 per cent conservation of water. — APP