The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance of $300,000 to undertake the evaluation of irrigation rehabilitation programme and reforms process in Pakistan. This grant would be disbursed under the National Drainage Programme in order to gather lessons and provide recommendations to strengthen the reform process, a press release issued here on Tuesday said.
The technical assistance will also develop a programme in collaboration with the government to increase the capacity at the federal and provincial levels for water management. It would also support establishment of a permanent body to provide strategic planning at the federal level.
Water resources are vital for Pakistan's economic growth and its proper management is critical for poverty reduction. Agriculture contributes 25 percent to the GDP and employs over 50 percent of the rural labour force in Pakistan.
This assistance would focus on three key areas, water resources analytical and planning capacity, decision support system and institutional and legal arrangement in the country.
ADB Country Director in Pakistan Marshuk Ali Shah said, "The technical assistance evaluation of irrigation rehabilitation programmes in Pakistan will provide essential guidance to the ADB, other donors and the government to formulate future assistance for irrigated agriculture.
"The assistance is a follow up to a previous technical assistance provided by the ADB to the government to prepare a water resource strategy, which was completed in 2002. It provided the basis for the government's recently announced National Water Policy. The new assistance will further guide the ADB assistance to the sector."
Thomas Pannella, water resources specialist and mission leader said, "The assistance will review the existing decision system in Pakistan's water resource and irrigation sectors, define needs, assess existing capacity to support a modern water sector support system and generate an approach and strategy towards developing this capability."-PR