Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal today mandated the rapid development of a plan to restore water flow in the Kachhi Canal, aiming to revive agricultural activities in Balochistan. The directive was issued during a meeting that included discussions with Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti via video link.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Minister Iqbal has given experts a two-month deadline to propose solutions that would enable the canal to carry 400 to 500 cusecs of water, crucial for irrigating 713,000 acres of land in Balochistan. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to implement a comprehensive flood management system in the region.
Chief Minister Bugti highlighted the severe impact that the canal’s dysfunction has had on local farming and expressed optimism that under Minister Iqbal’s supervision, an effective restoration plan will be developed. The Planning Minister also suggested that the restoration efforts follow the Urban canal model used in Punjab, to ensure efficient water delivery to the local populations as a top governmental priority.