‘Completion of Gomal Zam Dam project to boost agriculture’

PESHAWAR: Timely conclusion of the watercourses project at the Gomal Zam Dam (GZD) will serve to enhance agricultural production in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

The CM was chairing a meeting on the subject, where he instructed the relevant officials to ensure that the watercourses are constructed within the specified deadline. He also issued directives for plantation along the canal sites to avert soil erosion in nearby areas.

Mahmood further said that the cultivation of 200,000 acres of agricultural land will be achieved once the 462 watercourses are completed since it will also help the province save Rs80 million annually by reducing flood losses.

The construction cost of the project is valued at Rs33.37 billion out of which Rs22 billion has been funded by foreign assistance. Meanwhile, the dimensions of the dam feature a height of 437 feet, a length of 369 Km with a 60km long main canal and a total storage capacity of around 1,140,000 acre-feet.

Minister for Environment Ishtiaq Urmar, CM’s adviser on energy Hamayatullah, secretary agriculture Mohammad Israr, secretary irrigation, chief engineer irrigation, and GZD project director among others were in attendance at the meeting.

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