All dams including KBD to be built, says President
By Makhdoom Babar

ISLAMABAD—Making it absolute clear that every step will be taken to avoid water shortage in the country, President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said all major water reservoirs including Kalabagh Dam will be built because masses were fully supporting them.
“It is imperative to construct water reservoirs before 2016 in order to meet water scarcity otherwise country will plunge into crisis but we will not let this happen,” he observed this while addressing a gathering on Silver Jubilee of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council in a ceremony connected with inauguration of National Agricultural Research Center.
He said work on Bhasha-Diamir Dam has been started while work on all other big and small dams including Munda Dam, Akhori Dam and Kalabagh Dam would be constructed to provide adequate water for irrigation to the farmers.
The President said many canals including Thal canal, Rainy canal and Rikki canal are being constructed for better utilization of the available water for irrigation.
Elaborating strategy for construction of canals, President maintained that at least Rs 66 billion are being spent on the brick lining of 87000 canals. At least six thousands new canals will be brick lined next year, he emphasized. President Musharraf said due to shortage of water, “We should utilize less water, so that we can irrigate more land by using laser leveling, drip irrigation and sprinklers.”
He said laser-leveling helps in reducing the use of power and water, therefore, the farmers should be motivated to use these technologies. The president also directed Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) to facilitate small farmers in getting smaller agro loans and the results of agricultural research must be passed on to farmers so that can yield more products through their crops.
“Pakistan is an agriculture country and agro sector is the backbone of our economy, which provides 42 percent employment opportunities.” President elaborated, adding, it is a great source of foreign investment, which has helped improve agriculture production, export revenues, food security ,employment opportunities and standard of living of countrymen.
Commenting different strategies and programs to improve agriculture related investment, he pointed out that the government was setting up new projects aimed at improving standard of living and reducing poverty. Agriculture sector had been neglected by the previous governments he added. He congratulated scientists at this occasion and said we have made a commitment to provide the fruits of research to masses. President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday emphasized the need for optimum utilization of research and technology and urged the agricultural scientists to help the farmers achieve a quantum jump in per acre yield of crops to improve agriculture sector and alleviate poverty
The President was addressing the inaugural ceremony of silver jubilee celebrations of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council here at the National Agricultural Research Centre.
President Musharraf said agriculture sector is back bone of the country. He said the country has tremendous potential, all types of fertile land and weathers but there is need to adopt coordinated efforts at all levels to get benefit from these natural resources to increase agricultural production. The President said with 70 per cent population depending on the agriculture sector, Pakistan is an agrarian society, therefore, it was the responsibility of the agricultural scientists and researchers to help the farmers to increase the production of their crops.
Appreciating the efforts of the scientists working in Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, the President said due to their efforts there was quantum jump in the wheat production and other crops.