Provincial Minister for Irrigation & Chairman PIDA Amanat Ullah Khan Shadikhel has said that a comprehensive strategy was being designed to take maximum benefits of the CPEC project, adding that the farming community would also be beneficiary of the government efforts on sustainable basis. He said this while presiding over a meeting of working group on energy and irrigation at his office on Thursday. The meeting discussed and reviewed different policy options to take benefit of the western route of the CPEC project crossing from the Punjab.
The meeting was briefed in detail about the irrigation sector related steps in wake of CPEC project. It was informed that CM Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has constituted six different working groups to formulate professional recommendations with regard to western route of CPEC crossing along Attock, Chakwal and Mianwali in Punjab. This policy recommendation would also guide the Punjab government about the development plan relating to CPEC project.
The Minister was told that the Irrigation Department has designed different projects including Marri Dam with a cost of Rs 1500 million and Gangawal Dam with a cost of Rs 1200 million in Attock.
Similarly, Rs 2000 million project of Photohar Climate Smart Irrigation, Agriculture Programme has also been proposed. On the other side, different development projects costing Rs 8800 million for improving irrigation infrastructure in Mianwali have also been proposed. River training works worth Rs 3000 million from Jinnah Barrage to Chashma Barrage would also be done, the meeting was further told. Alongside, Kas Umer Khan Canal system with a cost of Rs 5000 million has also been proposed to the government. The meeting noted with satisfaction that these development projects would have positive impact on these districts which would also expedite the socio-economic development at the grassroots.
Secretary Energy Dr Asad Gillani told that energy producing projects from small dams in Photohar region and from the agricultural schemes would also be designed under CPEC project so that energy could be continuously provided. Similarly, solar and coal energy projects on right side of CPEC route and development of power plant projects on non-perennial canals, hill-torrents and other irrigation infrastructure is also planned and further action would be taken in the light of the technical reports. Provincial Minister said that the Energy and Irrigation Departments would take technical assistance from the P&D Department so that the CPEC project could be fully exploited.