Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari today mandated an 18-month timeline for the completion of the Kachhi Canal project, aiming to significantly boost agricultural capacity by irrigating 713,000 acres in Balochistan. This directive was issued during a high-level meeting focused on the Green Pakistan Initiative, underscoring the project’s importance to the nation’s agricultural and environmental strategies.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the meeting reviewed the progress and plans for six strategic canals, including the Chashma Right Bank Canal, Rainee Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Cholistan Canal, and Thar Canal, alongside the Kachhi Canal. These canals are considered crucial for enhancing Pakistan’s cultivable areas and supporting the livestock and fisheries sectors. The federal government has committed to funding the Kachhi Canal to ensure its completion within the prescribed timeline.

President Zardari emphasized the importance of these projects for the Green Pakistan Initiative, instructing that construction commence immediately with specific measures such as concrete lining to prevent water seepage and loss. Additionally, he highlighted the implementation of twenty-seven telemetry points to facilitate precise data sharing on water flow, crucial for effective water management across these significant infrastructural developments.