ISLAMABAD: A federal planning committee has recommended a Rs69.9 billion irrigation project for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with plans to rehabilitate and expand canal infrastructure serving agricultural areas of the province.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) referred the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Resilient Irrigated Agriculture Livelihoods Development Project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final consideration at its October 26 meeting.
The project is intended to improve irrigation infrastructure and support agricultural livelihoods in areas where reliable water supplies are important for farming.
Three major components
According to the Planning Ministry, the proposed work includes rehabilitation of the Pehur Main Canal, construction of the Mulkhow Irrigation Distribution System and extension of the Pehur High Level Canal.
Together, the schemes are designed to improve the distribution of irrigation water and strengthen agricultural infrastructure.
The project has an estimated cost of Rs69.9 billion.
The Asian Development Bank is expected to provide Rs56.1 billion in co-financing, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is expected to contribute Rs11.7 billion.
Land acquisition is to be financed separately through a dedicated project document.
The funding figures set out in the ministry’s announcement describe the proposed financing arrangements.
Final approval still required
The irrigation scheme was among 13 development projects considered by the CDWP during its October 26 meeting.
The committee approved 10 projects worth a combined Rs40.9 billion and referred three larger schemes, together valued at Rs172.3 billion, to ECNEC.
A separate Rs85.3 billion hill-torrent management project for parts of Punjab was also recommended for final consideration.
For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the next significant step is ECNEC’s decision on the irrigation proposal.
The Planning Ministry’s announcement did not provide a confirmed construction start date or completion schedule for the KP project.
Pakistan Report illustration.