PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Tuesday directed the irrigation department to immediately prepare a comprehensive plan for increasing the cultivable command area across the province.

“Expanding the command area is essential for ensuring food security, which remains a top priority of the provincial government,” Mr Afridi told a meeting of the irrigation department at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here.

He ordered the introduction of a modern asset management system as well as geographic information system (GIS) mapping of the canal network and digitisation of records, according to an official statement.

The chief minister directed authorities to digitise all departmental functions, including abiana (water rate) collections, saying digitisation will significantly enhance both transparency and performance.

Orders GIS mapping of canal network, digitisation of records

He also ordered the formulation of a comprehensive flood contingency plan and said coordinates and video evidence should be prepared for the cleaning and maintenance of canals.

Mr Afridi also said vacant posts in the irrigation department should be filled; the “on-pay scale” culture should come to an end, and the required human resources should be recruited without delay.

He said that work on all small dams should be completed within the stipulated time.

“The construction of dams is vital to meet the needs of a growing population,” he said, ordering speedy measures to provide tourism facilities near dams.

During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given on the responsibilities of the Irrigation Department and its subsidiary bodies, ongoing development projects, administrative matters, legal framework, irrigation infrastructure, and budgetary issues.

Participants were informed that more than 2.412 million acres of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently cultivable. Regarding small dams, it was briefed that over 321,000 acres have been made cultivable through small dams constructed in various districts of the province, while 24 more small dams are under construction which, upon completion, will bring an additional 61,000 acres of land under cultivation. Provincial Minister for Irrigation Riaz Khan and other relevant officials were also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday invited people with disabilities, ailing citizens and individuals living in shelter homes to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, where he listened to their concerns and issued immediate orders to authorities for their resolution.

The chief minister issued special instructions regarding citizens awaiting treatment for eye and cardiac conditions and assured them of prompt assistance.

He also directed officials to address the issues faced by differently able persons on a priority basis.

The chief minister took immediate notice of the problem highlighted by a citizen from the shelter home and ordered its swift resolution.

On the occasion, Mr Afridi said that his government had been entrusted with the mandate to serve the people and public welfare remains their foremost priority.

He added that the provincial government was following the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan by pursuing welfare oriented governance model inspired by the State of Madina.

Meanwhile, the student, who stood first in the recent MDCAT, called on the chief minister, who commended him and announced full government sponsorship of his educational expenses.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2025