Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti has termed effective canal system essential for self sufficiency in agriculture sector. He said that important projects like Bazai Irrigation Scheme, small dams and Chashma Left canal scheme were part of government’s comprehensive strategy.
Talking to a delegation of consultants, contractors and engineers of Bazai Irrigation Scheme under its Project Director at CM House on Thursday, the Chief said that unfortunately due to lack of suitable canal systems in the province we could not benefit from our share of water.
He said to overcome this shortage a strategy was drafted in consultation with entire political parties of the province for utilization of hydel power revenues and development of water sector in the province was also implemented.
He said that the government had also decided to obtain foreign loans only for revenues generating projects. Speaking about the Chashma Left Canal Project the Chief Minister said the project would be implemented with cooperation of World Bank and the process in this connection was in progress.
He lauded performance of department and efforts of engineers in prompt rehabilitation and reconstruction of last year flood devastated Munda Head Works, and hoped that entire network of Baizai Irrigation project would be completed by June which would usher green revolution in the area and would bring pleasant changes in economic status of farmers.
The project director thanked the Chief Minister on encouraging the staff and assured that the staff will leave no stone unturned for achieving objectives of the projects. He termed services of consultant, contractor and engineers as remarkable.
Provincial Secretary Khalid Pervez and Project Director Sajjad Ahmad Khan presented a briefing on background of the project.
It is pertinent to mention here that agriculture production of the area stood at 8780 metric ton. Entire distributaries of Baizai Irrigation scheme will complete by June that will enhance volume of agriculture production of the area to 260834 metric ton. The project will cost Rs.3400.661 million and will irrigate 25000 acre barren land out of which 20000 acre land was that of district Mardan and 5000 acre from Malakand. The total length of main Canal is 39.092 with 21 total distributaries and minors and three tunnels having length 1626 kilometers. The water flow from it will be 200 cusecs. Meanwhile, the CM offered shields and certificates to secretary irrigation, project director, engineers and consultant.
Secretary Irrigation Khalid Pervez, Sher Akbar Khan from Chief Minister Camp office Mardan and Coordinator Javed Yousafzai were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of Project Director Sajjad Ahmad Khan and other Engineers on realizing this project for agriculture development in the area and awarded them honorary certificates on behalf of the provincial government.
CM approves free angiography, angioplasty service for poor patients: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti has approved provision of free cardiac angiography and angioplasty service to poor heart patients and directed for provision of Rs. 60 million to three major hospitals of the province Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Ayub Teaching hospital Abbottabad and HMC Peshawar, in this connection.
It merits a mention here that angiography and angioplasty service centers were available in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, and Ayub Teaching hospital Abottabad but patients can’t benefit from these centers to its full because patients can’t fulfill its heavy fee and funds were not available for their free treatment.
The present government established another center in HMC Peshawar last month. Now the number of such center rose to three and the chief minister directed for provision of Rs. 60 million to these centers out of which 25 million each will be provided to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, and HMC Peshawar while Ayub Teaching hospital Abbottabad will be provided Rs. 10 million. The CM directed for selection of poor patient for availing this service can be done through one window operation and the selection process can be done through tight scrutiny and audit from time to time in order that poor and deserving patients can benefit from this facility.
CM okays Rs30m for dialysis centers: Meanwhile, the CM also approved provision of Rs. 30 million to seven dialysis centers in the province for free dialysis services to kidney patients. It merits a mention here that this step was part of government special initiatives of the present government.
