ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday directed the authorities concerned to ensure completion of the Kachhi canal project within one and a half years to irrigate around 713,000 acres of land in Balochistan province.

The federal government would provide funding for the project to ensure its timely completion on a priority basis, President Zardari said, while chairing a meeting on the Green Pakistan Initiative at Aiwan-i-Sadr, according to a President House press release.

In the meeting, which was attended by the interior minister and senior military officials, Mr Zardari was briefed about the construction of six strategic canals for the Green Pakistan Initiative.

He was informed that the construction of six strategic canals — Chashma Right Bank Canal, Kachhi Canal, Rainee Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Cholistan Canal and Thar Canal — would help enhance the agricultural potential of Pakistan by increasing the cultivable area as well as the livestock and fisheries potential of the country.

President directs authorities to complete six strategic canals to expand cultivable area

He directed the authorities concerned to kick-start work on the strategic canals for GPI and ens­ure their early completion, besi­des lining them with concrete to prevent seepage and wastage of water.

He highlighted the need to dev­elop Pakistan’s irrigation sector along modern lines to cons­­erve water, reduce water losses, and enhance water availability. He also underlined the need to promote drip irrigation in the barren areas surrounding the canals.

The president underscored the need to revamp and improve the Indus River System Authority.

He also proposed establishing a state land bank to productively utilise state-owned lands surrounding strategic canals by securing funding and investment from international financial institutions and the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The meeting was also briefed that 27 telemetry points would be established to ensure accurate data sharing regarding the availability and flow of water.

NA session summoned

Earlier, President Zardari summoned a session of the National Assembly on Tuesday at 5pm.

The session has been called shortly after conclusion of the budget 2024-25 session with a heavy 49-point agenda on the private members’ day. The house business advisory committee meeting will take place at 4pm.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2024