Irrigation dept moves toward e-Abiana
Impact of food security is growing concern among farmers. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Punjab Irrigation Department inked an MoU with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) on Tuesday to introduce e-Abiana system for collecting water charges.
The project provides a digital mechanism for the automation of water charges and fines collection system through the PITB developed e-Pay Punjab system.
PITB Chairman Azfar Manzoor and Irrigation Secretary Saif Anjum signed the agreement in the presence of Punjab IT & Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Hamayun and Irrigation Minister Mohsin Khan Leghari.
PITB IT Operations DG Faisal Yousaf was also present.
The IT minister stated, “The project, e-Abiana, will digitalise water revenue collection from farmers in the form of Abiana, which will be collected through the irrigation department’s e-Pay Punjab.”
It would, in particular, enable the department to ensure transparency and make collection of the revenue easier, he added.
The irrigation minister said, “In Punjab alone, the calculated amount of Abiana collected is almost Rs4 billion per annum. The objective of e-Abiana is to develop a technology to ensure transparency in revenue collection.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2020.