Livelihood, poverty reduction: ministry asked to analyse utility, impact of NPIWC

Prime Minister's Inspection Commission (PMIC) has directed the ministry of food and agriculture to analyse the utility and impact of "National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses (NPIWC)" on livelihood, poverty reduction and improvement of rural economy of the country.
The PMIC met here at the Prime Minister's Secretariat with its Chairman Malik Amjad Ali Noon in the chair. Officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Abdul Gaffar Arian (Monitoring and Evaluation) and Tahir Anwar, Director General Water Management briefed the committee about the progress of NPIWC.
They gave an awareness presentation about the programme in the meeting. They said the umbrella project aims to improve 86,003 watercourses (length to be lined 76,610kms). The project was approved in December 2004 by Ecnec at a capital cost of Rs 66.4 billion with federal government's share of Rs 50.7 billion. However, federal government has provided Rs 87.4 billion. The project has so far improved 66,500 watercourses against a target of 86,003.
Ministry officials said that the overall objectives of the project are, i) employment generation ii) empowering farming community and iii) increased agricultural production through efficient use of water resources. The provincial components of the project have been approved by the provincial governments, while operation and maintenance of the courses, after completion of the project, would be the responsibility of farmers. A study has been undertaken to access the impact of the project, they added.
Malik Amjad Noon appreciated the efforts made by the ministry, provincial governments and farmers. He said that the positive socio-economic impact of the project would help in creation of employment opportunities, improvement in agricultural products and empowerment of farmer community. The PMIC will closely look into the financial arrangement, and help improvement in PSDP allocation for the project, he added.
Meanwhile, the meeting urged met office and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to determine damage caused by recent floods which caused destroyed agriculture and infrastructure, and take steps to avoid losses due to such kind of calamities in future. The meeting further noted that after 18th Constitutional Amendment and 7th NFC Award, provincial financial resources have increased, calling upon the provinces to initiate projects from their own sources.