Rs 15 billion to be spent on drip sprinkle system scheme: National Assembly informed

The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the government will spend Rs 15 billion on drip sprinkle system scheme in the arid areas.
The Food and Agriculture Minister, Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan informed the House on the calling attention notice of Begum Ishrat Ashraf, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, Syed Zafar Ali Shah and Syed Khursheed Shah MNAs, that 80 percent cost of the scheme would be borne by the federal government, 10 percent by provincial governments and remaining 10 percent by the local farmers.
He said that the project would be launched by 2006-07 under the direct supervision of the federal government.
The scheme would be introduced through private companies in all the rain-fed areas of four provinces and Fata, Bosan added. To a question of Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the minister said that it would not be politicised and all farmers would get benefit from the scheme regardless of their political affiliations.
About construction of watercourses, the food minister said the project would be completed within 5 years. Bosan further said that the concerned companies would continue the monitoring of the scheme till the farmers were fully acquainted with the use of the machinery.
Meanwhile, a number of other lawmakers both from opposition and treasury benches also spoke on different issues through Points of Order in the late hours of the session.
Naheed Khan of PPP-P said that the government sold Karachi Steel Mills on throwaway prices and even the chairman of the mills has a lot of reservations.
Ayesha Munawar of the MMA said that Balochistan situation should be resolved through political means rather than militarily.
Samia Raheel Qazi of the MMA said that people mostly question about two things: one is unprecedented inflation and the other what, she called, 'Fahashi' through media, which need to be checked urgently.
Gul-e-Farkhanda of the ruling PML said that country was lacking big water reservoirs, which led to the shortage of water and energy in the country.
Bushra Anwar supported the Margalla Towers victims' plea for compensation. She also emphasised the need for promoting Islamic ethics through media.
Ali Akber Vaince said that opposition should also support the government to deal with the miscreants in Balochistan. He recalled that when Indian government took action against the militants in Khalistan, its opposition also supported the action of the government.