PESHAWAR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB has agreed to finance the extension of Pehur High Level Canal to make the barren land of Swabi district and surrounding areas cultivable and boost agricultural activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A statement issued here said that this was agreed in a meeting of a two-member ADB delegation which called on Senior Minister for Irrigation and Social Welfare Sikandar Hayat Sherpao on Thursday.

The delegation was led by water resources management specialist Takaku R, while provincial secretary irrigation Tariq Rashid, ADB senior project officer Asad Zafar and other technical specialists were also present in the meeting.

The minister told the delegation that more than 70 per cent of KP population depended on agriculture, which was also the backbone of national economy and human development. He said that as such irrigation system needed to be extended and upgraded as per challenges of the modern era.

He said the different irrigation and power generation projects were planned to be commissioned in KP like Tirich Irrigation Canal, Chitral, and small dam projects. He requested the delegation to introduce modern technology and techniques in developing the irrigation system of KP and suggested to establish a technical academy where engineers and other technical staff of irrigation department could be imparted latest training.

After discussion, the delegation expressed its keen interest to work in this province for the upgradation and extension of irrigation canal system. It assured the provincial minister that the proposals would be included in the next meeting of ADB to be held in March 2017 for consideration. The delegation also said that the bank was interested to invest in irrigation sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016