ISLAMABAD, May 4: The government is planning to introduce a Rs15 billion drip or sprinkle irrigation system in the country, a senior official said here on Thursday.

Food and Agriculture Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan said the system would be accommodated in the next budget and the federal government would meet 80 per cent of its cost while the remaining 20 per cent would be shared equally by the provinces and farmers.

The minister was responding to a call-attention notice in the National Assembly from five opposition members.

The five members —Begum Ishrat Ashraf of PML-N, Dr Farid Piracha of MMA and Zafar Ali Shah, Khurshid Ahmad Shah and Raja Pervez Ashraf of PPP — had complained about what they called wastage of water due to delay in the implementation of drip irrigation or sprinkle system.

“God-willing, this plan will be announced in the coming budget,” Mr Bosan said and added that its implementation would begin “in letter and spirit” in the fiscal 2006-07.

He said the project would be implemented by provincial governments through private companies while the federal government would only oversee it.

In response to questions from the authors of the notice, the minister said the project would give priority to raid-fed, or barani, areas such as the Potohar region of the Punjab province and would also be applicable to Azad Kashmir, Northern Areas and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

“I assure you it will be a very successful project,” he said.

PPP member Zafar Ali Shah urged the minister to make sure the project did not fall prey to local politics.

Mr Bosan said farmers would be free to enter into agreement with any of companies installing the system.