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PESHAWAR, Nov 18 (APP): Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi here Tuesday directed Irrigation Department to immediately prepare a comprehensive plan to increase cultivable command area in the province.
He said that increasing the command area is essential for ensuring food security, which is a top priority of the provincial government. For this purpose, the relevant departments should sit together and develop out-of-the-box solutions.
While presiding over an important meeting of the Irrigation Department at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here, Sohail Afridi instructed the introduction of a modern asset management system for irrigation infrastructure, as well as GIS mapping of canal systems and preparation of complete digital records.
The Chief Minister also directed the full digitalization of all departmental affairs, including the abiana (water charges) collection system, saying that digitalization will enhance both transparency and performance.
In addition, he instructed the formulation of a comprehensive flood contingency plan and the preparation of coordinates and videos for the cleaning and repair of canals.
Directing recruitment for vacant posts in the irrigation department, he ordered an end to the own-pay-scale culture, stating that the required workforce must be hired.
Moreover, the Chief Minister emphasized ensuring the timely completion of under-construction small dams, noting that building new dams is essential to meet the needs of a growing population. He also directed accelerating efforts to provide tourism facilities near dams.
During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given on the Irrigation Department and its subsidiary bodies, departmental responsibilities, development projects, administrative affairs, laws, irrigation infrastructure, and budget.
Participants were informed that more than 2.412 million acres of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently cultivable.
Regarding small dams, it was briefed that over 321,000 acres of land have been made cultivable through small dams in various districts of the province.
It was further informed that 24 small dams are under construction, and upon completion, an additional 61,000 acres of land will become cultivable. Provincial Minister for Irrigation Riaz Khan and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.