LAHORE, April 6: The World Bank has offered $100 million annual aid for improving irrigation schemes, provincial Irrigation Minister Aamer Sulatn Cheema said. The offer, he said, was made by a WB mission which called on him at his office on Thursday.

It was the first time the WB has offered such a huge amount for irrigation system, he claimed.

He said the bank wanted this money to be spent on saving water, improving canals and revamping irrigation infrastructure.

In addition to these schemes, the bank also wanted Pakistan to strengthen its national drainage programme, underground water regulation and upgrading its water technology, he said.

The minister said the government was already spending huge funds on mega water projects and research. It also involved farmers in planning and given control of certain canals to growers, he added. —Staff Reporter