ADB agrees to finance Pehur Canal extension project

PESHAWAR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to finance the extension of Pehur High Level Canal which is aimed at boosting up the agricultural activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.It is a major project meant for making barren land of Swabi district and surrounding areas cultivable.

This was agreed in a meeting of a two-member delegation of the ADB, which called on Senior Minister for Irrigation and Social Welfare, Sikdanar Hayat Khan Sherpao here at Civil Secretariat, said an official handout. The delegation was led by Takaku R, Water Resources Management Specialist.

Tariq Rashid, KP Secretary Irrigation, Asad Zafar, Senior Project Officer of the ADB, and other technical specialists were also present.The minister told the delegation that over 70 percent population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa depended on agriculture. Being the backbone of national economy and human development, irrigation system needs to be extended and upgraded as per the challenges of the modern era. He explained different irrigation and power generation projects planned to be commissioned in KP with specific reference to the Terch Irrigation Canal, Chitral and small dams project.

The minister asked the delegation to introduce modern technology and techniques in developing the irrigation system of KP. He suggested to establish a technical academy where the engineers and other technical staff of Irrigation Department be imparted modern training.After detailed discussion on the overall existing and future planning of irrigation system in KP, the delegation expressed a keen interest in working in this province for the upgradation and extension of irrigation canal system of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The delegation members assured the minister that all proposals would be included in the next meeting of the ADB for serious consideration. The meeting is expected to be held in March 2017. The team members disclosed that the ADB wanted to invest in KP irrigation sector.