ADB Country Director Dr Werner E Liepach and Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Secretary Mohammad Saleem Sethi signed the loan agreement, while Irrigation Secretary Saif Anjum inked the project agreement on behalf of the Punjab government.
According to a press release, the rehabilitation and upgrading of Trimmu and Panjnad barrages will help reduce flood risks and ensure reliable water supply to 1.7 million hectares of farmland, benefitting about 600,000 farming families or about four million people, said Liepach.
The ADB is already assisting Pakistan in improving capacity and efficiency of its aged irrigation system under a $700 million multi-tranche finance facility for the Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Programme.
Rehabilitation and upgrading work on Balloki and Suleimanki barrages, construction of a new Khanki barrage as well as rehabilitation of key canals are also going on under the multi-tranche investment facility.
The loan provided on Friday would help rehabilitate 80-90 years’ old Trimmu and Panjnad barrages, improve farm incomes through increased productivity of irrigated agriculture and reduce losses to crops, livestock and other properties of farmers as a result of floods.
“The project will also help train the Punjab Irrigation Department staff andcommunity members in flood-risk areas and help in taking integrated water resources management measures and approaches,” Liepach said.
The Trimmu and Panjnad barrages improvement project is expected to be completed by 2020.
The ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia-Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration.
Established in 1966, it is currently owned by 67 members, 48 from the region. In 2013, ADB assistance totalled $21 billion, including co-financing of $6.6 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2014.
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If this money goes to the government.......it will sink in the waters of the barrages and the people of Pakistan will be left to pay it back.