CM Shahbaz Sharif overseeing the agreement related to the Sulemanki barrage and Pakpattan canal. PHOTO:
The government and Sino Hydro Company of China on Tuesday signed an agreement to rehabilitate and upgrade Sulemanki Barrage and Pakpattan Canal.
Irrigation Department Project Management Unit head Syed Mehmoodul Hassan and Sino Hydro Company’s Duan Jianxia signed the agreement. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion.
Under the agreement, the Chinese company would upgrade the barrage, reconstruct its bridge and develop Pakpattan Canal by 2017 at a cost of Rs8 billion.
The chief minister called the agreement a development milestone. He said the development of the barrage and the canal would result in provision of water to 2.5 million acres. “The project will be completed transparently.”
He said farmers in Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari and Bahawalnagar would benefit from the rehabilitation of Sulemanki Barrage and Pakpattan Canal.
“The barrage was built in 1962… it’s renovation has become necessary. Once upgraded, it will help strengthen the rural economy,” he said.
The chief minister said the agreement reflected the growing economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said the time-tested Pakistan-China friendship had evolved into an economically beneficial relationship.
Sharif directed the Irrigation Department to complete the project on time. The chief secretary and secretaries of various departments were also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2014.
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