PCSBIP to be completed in early 2017

The development work on Pak Pattan Canal and Suleimanki Barrage Improvement Project (PCSBIP) has been started, which will be completed in early 2017, said official sources. Improvement of Suleimanki Barrage will ensure reliable water supply to 1.01 million hectare through its three canals including Pak Pattan, Fordwah and Eastern canals and will benefit more than 360,000 farming families. Pak Pattan canal alone provides irrigation to 500,000 ha.
Rehabilitation and upgrading of only Pakpattan canal along with Suleimanki Barrage is included under the project. Official sources mentioned that the rehabilitation of the other two canals is not needed immediately. The impact of the ADB funded Project will be the improved agricultural production and farm income in Pak Pattan Canal command area (Okara, Pak Pattan, Vehari and Lodhran districts).
Sources claimed that the outcome will be improved and reliable water supplies for irrigated agriculture in Pakpattan Canal command area. The project outputs will be (I) rehabilitation of Pak Pattan Canal and Suleimanki Barrage completed on time April 2017 and within the budget. The project outputs will be achieved through recruitment of supervision consultants, rehabilitation of main weir and canals head regulators, installation of barrage gates and rehabilitation of Pak Pattan Canal, Khadir Branch canal and Pak Pattan-Islam link canal and appurtenant structures.
Pak Pattan Canal and Suleimanki Barrage Improvement Project (PCSBIP) is a third project to be financed under the MFF. Punjab sought to increase investment in its underperforming irrigated agriculture infrastructure and institutions. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 26% of Punjab's GDP and employs over 40% of its labour force. Irrigated cultivable agriculture covers 8.4 million hectares (ha) with a cropping intensity exceeding 120%. Fourteen barrages supply water through 22 main and link canals. The Punjab's irrigation infrastructure has a worth of about $18 billion. Upgrading the irrigation system requires over $3 billion.