ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: The government has decided not to involve private firms and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the drainage and irrigation-related projects and instead make maximum utilisation of construction and investment potential of organisations run by armed forces.

A senior government official confirmed to Dawn that army engineering corps had raised concerns that involvement of private firms and NGOs, particularly with foreign links, could compromise Pakistan’s strategic interests given the sensitive nature of irrigation sector.

To start with, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and National Logistics Cell (NLC) would be awarded contracts of maximum schemes under the Rs25.5 billion National Drainage Programme (NDP) so that profitability of the two organisations is ensured.

Informed sources said the issue was discussed at a meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Aug 27 that approved a re-tailored national drainage programme following financial cuts imposed by the World Bank.

The HQ 30-Corps Gujranwala had complained that irrigation maps that were of very sensitive nature were supplied to private consultants working on a $100 million flood protection programme funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The corps Gujranwala insisted that water sector was a sensitive and strategic area whose maps should not have been given to consultants without clearance from the Engineering Corps.

The sources explained that it has been decided in principle for all times to come that irrigation and water storage projects must be implemented through FWO and NLC.

The two organisations are already touching their maximum work capacity in view of their involvement in some mega water storage projects being implemented by Wapda and road projects by National Highway Authority, a senior army officer told Dawn, adding that two companies have sublet their work to private firms.