Islamabad November 19, 2018:  The Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that Pakistan is an agricultural country whereas production of any agricultural country depends upon ample quantity of water. He further said that to overcome the scarcity of the water, we have to adopt such measures through which we cannot only meet our agricultural needs but can also generate employment opportunities.  He expressed these views while chairing a high level meeting to discuss the issues related to current water crises in the country, agriculture and farming.

The Speaker said that Pakistan was including in those countries which not only self-sufficient in agriculture commodities but also export them to other countries.  He said that agriculture in Pakistan depends upon Canals and rain water; however, due to shortage of water in rivers the cultivated areas were becoming barren.   In view of the water crises, we have to adopt such measures to save our farms to become barren, Asad Qaiser said.  He stressed the need to build small canals and lay pipelines to irrigate nearby water starve areas.

During the meeting, Director Pehur High Level Extension Canal Project informed that with help of Asian Development Bank, a project of Rs. 10.1 billion was initiated and under this project 91 kilometers land will be irrigated through Canals from Terbela Dam.  Besides this 30 kilometers long pressure pipelines will also be laid to irrigate the barren areas.  He informed that through alternative system, 228 Cusecs water will be supplied to Swabi and its environs to which 30 thousand 5 hundred acres land will be irrigated.   

The Project Director apprised that this project will be completed by December, 2022.  He explained the meeting that at present 6 thousand Metric Tons production is being produced by rain water from those areas and after completion of this Project the production will be increased up toone lac 15 thousand metric tons.  He further informed that areas including Jhanda Boka, Topi, Maini, Punj Pir, Kala Dara, Mian Dheri, Guju Khan Maira, Ambar, Indus, Nandrak, Shah Mansoor, Ganjwal, Jhendi Dhari will be benefited from this Project.

Asad Qaiser said that with the completion of this Project not only the agriculture production will be increased but also inhabitants of areas will get employment opportunities.  He said that the farmers of the areas will not only meet their food needs through production of agricultural commodities they will also enable to play their role in the country’s economic development by selling their products in markets.