Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that timely completion of Kachhi Canal project will demonstrate the commitment of the government, which accords top priority to development projects in Balochistan. The Prime Minister made these observations while reviewing the progress of work on Kachhi Canal project during a briefing by Ministry of Water and Power here on Tuesday.
He directed the Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to gear up efforts to expeditiously complete the project and also directed the Ministry of Finance to ensure release of funds so that work on the project is completed on time. The Prime Minister said that now these funds have been released for the project, Wapda should co-ordinate with the provincial government and local authorities to expedite work so that unnecessary delays on the project, which he termed as lifeline of Balochistan, could be avoided.
The Chairman Wapda Syed Raghib Abbas Shah informed the Prime Minister that manpower and equipment has been mobilised and work is going on in full swing at various sites of the projects. The Prime Minister said that work on the project should be carried out round the clock so that it can be completed ahead of schedule. The Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power, Nargis Sethi informed the meeting that in view of the importance and priority being accorded to the project, she will personally visit the site to monitor the progress of the work on it.
The Prime Minister said that he would like to visit the project and expressed the hope that the canal would become operational and provide water for irrigation before the next sowing season. The canal on completion shall irrigate 713,000 acres of land in Dera Bugti, Bolan, Nasirabad and Jhal Magsi and would also provide drinking water to 2 million people, the Prime Minister was informed. The meeting was attended by Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Water and Power, Chairman Wapda and other senior government officials.-PR
