LAHORE, Jan 26: The changing weather pattern - usually low rainfall - may continue for another four or five years. Therefore, the country should plan to utilize every drop of available water.

This was stated by Irrigation Minister Amer Sultan Cheema while talking to reporters here on Wednesday. He said eight districts in the Punjab's Potohar and Cholistan regions did not have the canal system and dry weather would add to poverty of the people.

Keeping the situation in mind, the provincial government was taking several steps to provide drinking water and promote agriculture or livestock sectors in these areas, he added.

The minister said small dams were being constructed in Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock and Rawalpindi districts. Three such dams were constructed last year while another six would be completed during the current financial year.

Mr Cheema said the government had developed three village ponds in the Cholistan area last year while another six would be developed at a cost of Rs186 million this year.

The minister said hill torrents used to cause large scale damage in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and Mianwali districts every year. The government started a project to tame the Mithanwan Nullah with the assistance of the Japanese government to solve the problem permanently.

This project was in the last stage of completion, he continued. Such projects were also being completed in Rajanpur and Mianwali districts, he concluded.