Islamabad, Aug 3: Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, Minister of Water Resources, told the National Assembly on Tuesday that a strategy has been developed under the Green Pakistan Initiative to cultivate barren land in the nation and increase per-acre crop yield by using a variety of contemporary techniques. In response to a note of concern expressed by Syed Naveed Qamar and others
In response to media reports that 4.8 million acres of land were handed to corporate farming, diverting water supplies, he stated that 812,000 acres of land had already been purchased to cultivate previously uncultivated territory. According to what he indicated, Punjab and Sindh have already transferred land as part of the joint venture. Gilgit-Baltistan and other provinces haven’t yet transferred any land, though.
According to the minister, a business has also registered under green initiatives. The strategy calls for giving the relevant province and investors 40% of each revenue stream, with the remaining 20% going only toward research and development (R&D) in this industry.He declared that the necessary irrigation water for the plan would come from the relevant province’s share. According to him, the Cholistan plan for Punjab would include a command area spanning about 400,000 acres.
He said that the project, which would involve building a 296-kilometer canal, would cost Rs. 211 billion. He went on to say that it would be made up of the 120 km Marur Canal and the 176 km Cholistan Canal.He said unequivocally that the provinces’ respective shares would be used to distribute water in the aforementioned canals, and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) would provide the necessary certificate in this regard.
According to him, the Cholistan Canal would receive water for two months from floodwater and for four months from the Punjab province’s portion. In response to a query from Syed Naveed Qamar, the minister stated that since the 18th constitutional amendment, the federal government was no longer allowed to inquire with the provinces about how their water share was distributed within their borders.He continued by saying that two provinces, Sindh and Punjab, have already inked agreements and designated land for the aforementioned Green Pakistan Initiative project.
According to Musadik Malik, telemetry systems are being put on water distribution systems to fully satisfy province reservations in wise water distribution in accordance with the water accord.According to him, the project’s primary goal was to increase production per acre by using productive farming, drip irrigation, and tunnel farming, all of which needed significant funding. He went on to say that it was also an effort to cultivate arid land.Additionally, the minister pleaded with the Speaker to form a House committee headed by either Khursheed Shah or Naveed Qamar to have a comprehensive discussion on the matter.
