ISLAMABAD: The foundation stone of the 117-kilometre Jalapur-Kundwal canal, an irrigation project worth Rs48 billion was laid by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Jhelum.
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, Jahangir Tareen, Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, and other officials were among the attendees of the ceremony.
Through this initiative, the government has announced to introduce a new non-perennial irrigation system through the canal to be completed in 2024, which will enhance the agricultural produce in Pind Dadan Khan and Khaushab.
The project financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Punjab government will provide 48% clean drinking water to 17 different villages.
In addition to cultivating almost 170,000 acres, the canal will cater to a water flow of 1,350 cusecs and convert over 68,000 hectares of the less productive and predominantly rain-fed area into irrigated farmland.
Predominantly an agricultural economy, this sector contributes 20% to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Pakistan.
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