PESHAWAR: The annual de-silting, cleaning, and maintenance campaign of canals has commenced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Provincial minister for irrigation Riaz Khan inaugurated the campaign at Shami Road, Peshawar.

Officials of the irrigation department gave a briefing to the minister regarding the ongoing de-silting, repair, and rehabilitation projects. The minister was informed that maintenance work was underway on a total of 4,060 kilometres of the canal system across the province.

During the current campaign, de-silting and cleaning of 2,030 kilometres of canals is being carried out.

An amount of Rs441.27 million is being spent on the de-silting and cleaning campaign.

The minister was informed that Rs285.64 million had been allocated for the repair of canal embankments and lining, besides Rs89.63 million allocated for the rehabilitation of tube wells and lift irrigation schemes. A sum of Rs83.47 million has been earmarked for flood protection and drainage projects. The canal system irrigates more than 2.5 million acres of agricultural land.

The minister said the objective of the de-silting campaign was to reduce water losses and ensure equitable distribution.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026