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Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture, Arbab Muhammad Ayub Jan has said that self sufficiency in agriculture depends upon irrigation and at the moment 70 % land of the province was either barren or non-cultivable for which the provincial government with the help of Federal government was working on D.I.Khan Left Irrigation Scheme and Gomal Zam Dam Projects which would not only bring under cultivation 2 lac 80 thousand and one lac 50 thousand acres of land respectively and cater to the edible requirements of the province but would also fulfilled food requirements of the neighbouring country as well.
He was addressing the agriculture scientists and farmers on the eve of World Food Day function held at the Agricultural Research Institute Tarnab Farm Peshawar with the collaboration of World Food Organization and World Food and Agriculture Organization on Tuesday morning. On this occasion Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Livestock, Haji Hidayatullah Khan, Secretary Agriculture Afsar Khan, VC Agriculture University Khan Bahadur Khan, and representatives of NGOs were also present.
Arbab Muhammad Ayub Jan said that headway has been made regarding the introduction of Solar Energy Left Irrigation System from Nizampur Peshawar to D.I.Khan with the help of Government of Japan.
He said that the provincial economy depends upon agriculture sector which would not only help reduce the unemployment but would be a step forward for economic prosperity of the province. He further said that with the prolonged loadshedding of electricity; the common man has been affected severely on one hand while on the other the industrial production has been reduced to zero level.
In such circumstances, he said, it was need of the hour to do away with the WAPDA Command and Control Powers and fulfilled our own requirements on priority basis and provide the electricity to the common man at the rate within his reach and also provide electricity to the industrial sector at cheaper rates and invite the industrialists in the country as well as abroad to invest generously the industrial sector to overcome the unemployment in the province.
The Provincial Minister said that work on seven power projects was going on and as per JICA of Japan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the potential to produce 42000 mega watt electricity. He thanked the World Food Organization and World Food and Agriculture Organization for providing food stuff to the affectees during earthquake, floods and Swat Operation as their look after lonely for the government was impossible.
He said that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti was in constant touch with the Federal government who was desirous for the overall development of the province and that was why work was going on several gigantic projects in the province. Adding that work was in full swing on Northern Bye Pass, which on completion, would solve 70 % traffic problems of Peshawarites.
The function was also addressed by Provincial Minister for Livestock, Haji Hidayatullah Khan, who said that the Livestock Department was playing an important role in fulfilling he edible requirements of the province and the government with the help of World Food Organization was spending Rs. 535 million for increasing of edible production by improving the poultry farming, veterinary, dispensaries and breeding of animals used for loading purposes including camels.
Similarly, he added with an estimated cost of Rs. 207 million Harichand Dairy Farm was being improved besides establishment of a Veterinary Hospital in Chagharmati near Peshawar.
The function was also addressed by Secretary Agriculture Afsar Khan, VC Agriculture University Khan Bahadur Khan and representatives of World Food and Agriculture Organization Mah-e-Jabeen.
For more information, contact:
Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Tel: +9291 921 6889 (Ext 106)
Email: info@khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk