Vehari Road carriageway expansion begins with Rs12 billion

MULTAN: Construction has begun on an additional carriageway on Vehari Road with a budget of Rs 12 billion.

Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan visited the sites on Friday to oversee the project, which connects three districts. He said that the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has addressed a long-standing demand from the Multan Division. The project spans 19.20km in Multan, 6km in Khanewal, and 49.60km in Vehari, with a focus on timely completion and quality. A Rs 13 billion upgradation scheme for Vehari Road is pending approval. Currently, 3km of earthwork and 2.5km of sub-base have been completed in Vehari, along with ongoing work in Khanewal and Multan.

Meanwhile, a high-level meeting on the 10-year performance of agricultural research institutions was chaired by Commissioner Multan Division, Amir Karim Khan. He expressed concerns over insufficient agricultural research and urged authorities to enhance efforts and adopt modern reforms to boost productivity. As Pakistan is an agricultural nation, he emphasized the crucial role of research for progress.

Khan highlighted the need to train farmers in soil analysis, modern fertilisers, climate change effects, and efficient water management. He called for agricultural universities to conduct regular workshops to educate farmers on contemporary methods.

He also stressed improving mango export quality and increasing cotton and wheat yields through effective research and technology, advocating for strict quality control and advanced processing systems. Additionally, he pointed out that challenges like climate change and substandard seeds have hurt production, urging research institutions to focus on modern techniques and smart farming. The heads of these institutions committed to supporting his directives, as the Commissioner reaffirmed his dedication to strengthening the agricultural sector.