Pakistan, ADB sign deal worth $8.3m to enhance water availability in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to enhance water availability and increase agricultural productivity in the province, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed funds worth $8.32 million.

The agreement was signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Syed Pervaiz Abbas at a ceremony in Islamabad.

While briefing, ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang informed that Pakistan is an agriculture-based economy, which is vital to ensure continued food security.

Allocated as a Project Readiness Financing Facility for the Punjab Water Resources Management Projects, the government will utilise the allocated funds to prepare a detailed feasibility report including designs and safeguard documents of the five irrigation infrastructure projects, discerned by the provincial government on priority basis.

The five projects include the Rehabilitation and upgradation of Upper Jhelum Canal System, refine Dera Ghazi Khan Canal Irrigation System, revamp Rasul-Qadirabad, Qadirabad-Balloki, and Balloki-Suleimanki Canals, greater Thal Canal Project Phase II (Dhingana Branch System, Noorpur Branch System, and Mahmood Sub-branch System); and harness of Hill Torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

The depleted condition of irrigation systems has caused unreliable delivery of surface water, which in turn created hurdles in managing the resource.   

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