Provincial Irrigation Minister Senator Dilawar Abbas met Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab former Justice Ejaz Nisar at Chief Minister's Secretariat here Tuesday and gave him a detailed briefing regarding ongoing projects in irrigation sector.
Former Justice Ejaz Nisar said that huge funds were being spent on strengthening of irrigation sector for the improvement of national economy, increase in agri-production and socio-economic uplift of farmers.
He said that water resources played a key role in national development and promotion of agriculture hence special attention was being paid to the repair and rehabilitate water reservoirs. He said that irrigation system was being modernised due to its importance to provincial economy and modem methods of research and management were being employed for the consolidation of irrigation system.
He expressed his satisfaction over the pace of implementation of irrigation projects and said that it would help realise the dream of a Greener Punjab which would also leave a positive impact on national economy.
Provincial Minister for Irrigation Senator Dilawar Abbas while briefing about the ongoing protects of Irrigation Department said that Punjab had the best irrigation network in the world. It irrigated 20.7 million acres of land, he added. He said that a major project of construction, repair and rehabilitation of barrages and head works beside brick lining of canals and water channels was being implemented in the province.
He said that ongoing projects in irrigation sector were being executed with the help of World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international institutions and would usher in a new era of progress and prosperity in Punjab.
He said that projects being implemented with the co-operation of international institutions include rehabilitation of Taunsa Barrage, Lower Chenab Canal, Lower Bari Duab Canal, construction of small dams in Barrani areas, setting up of five hydro power generation units of 25 megawatt on canals in Punjab as well as institutional reformation of canal system.
He said that power projects were being set up under Punjab Power Generation Policy with the mutual collaboration of public and private sectors. He said that special attention was being paid to the construction of small dams for storage of water in Barrani areas as well its proper utilisation. The Minister said that timely completion of ongoing projects was being ensured.