ISLAMABAD: In an intriguing move, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has been tasked with making decisions on at least three significant inter-provincial issues regarding the Rs231 billion first phase of the Cholistan canal system project, which was quietly referred to the committee by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
The Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired the CDWP meeting on October 12; the meeting’s decisions have not yet been formally announced. The forthcoming Ecnec conference, according to an official, would discuss the Sindh government’s concerns about the megaproject and the Rs19.5 billion cost of moving defense installations.
Ecnec must also decide if provincial water sector projects may move forward without the Council of Common Interests’ (CCI) approval.
An official stated, “The minister wanted Sindh’s objections to be brought before Ecnec along with the project approval.” The project, which the Punjab government had proposed and was named “Construction of Cholistan Canal and Systems, Phase I,” was projected to cost Rs211.34 billion. To move their equipment and facilities away from the canal system, the defense officials have also revealed an extra cost of Rs19.5 billion, bringing the total cost to Rs230.84 billion.
Council to make a decision on the Rs19.5 billion cost of moving defense facilities as well.
The official affirmed that the proposed project, which aims to support agriculture in the Cholistan region through corporate farming and foreign investment, is a part of the larger Green Pakistan Initiative and is supported by the Punjab Board of Revenue, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the federal government, and the Punjab Irrigation Department.
According to Punjab irrigation authorities, the project is an ambitious infrastructure endeavor that aims to address the issue of water scarcity in the Smaller Cholistan region of Punjab. It is intended to convert the arid and semi-arid lands of Cholistan into productive agricultural areas, thereby significantly improving the socio-economic status of the region through improved water management and agricultural practices.
Through “efficient irrigation infrastructure and water distribution systems,” the project aims to transform barren lands into fertile agricultural zones, boost agricultural productivity, and allow for the cultivation of crops in areas that were previously unsuitable for farming due to water scarcity. As a result, it will provide new opportunities for farming, employment, and related economic activities for the populace.
The Cholistan Canal, which will be built as part of the project, will be 176 kilometers long and capable of moving 4,120 cusecs of water from Sulemanki to Fort Abbas.
Concrete will be used to line the canal to stop seepage, provide effective water distribution through gravity flow outlets supported by the topography, and reduce energy consumption and operating expenses.
It’s interesting to note that, despite the project being proposed as non-perennial, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has granted a water availability certificate for the Kharif season, which runs from April to September.
Interestingly, Ecnec had approved a multibillion-rupee “Development of National Irrigation Network for Green Pakistan Initiative” in February, contingent on obtaining CCI certification, which proved unattainable for the next eight months.
The Cholistan Flood Feeder Canal was one of the projects featured in the Green Pakistan Initiative plan. construction of the Greater Thal Canal (GTC), the Kachhi Canal, the Rainee Canal, the Thar Canal, and the Chashma Right Bank Canal.
The Central Development Working Party was also informed that the Rs211bn number did not account for an additional head in cost estimates for defense installation relocations totaling Rs19.5bn. The Punjabi government recommended that the federal government cover this additional expense.
Furthermore, it was reported that the Sindh government had also formally summarized their case to the Council of Common Interests, requesting that Irsa withhold the Water Availability Certificate. This was due to the fact that Irsa had granted the certificate by a majority vote, but only for the month of Kharif, ignoring Sindh’s reservations.
“We are still awaiting the CCI’s judgment. The documents Dawn saw said that the proposal should thus be subject to CCI approval.
Additionally, it was stated that the Cholistan Canal was originally intended to be a flood-fed or non-perpetual channel, but that due to the demands of the Cholistan region and the potential for flow adjustments among the other canals in Punjab, its status was later modified to that of a perennial channel.
Although some officials have argued that the depletion of existing reservoirs due to sedimentation could offset the additional water capacity to be provided by Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the Punjab Irrigation Department believes that the completion of the dam will make available additional water, over and beyond the current storage capacity.
The estimated funding needed for the project is Rs42.3 billion from Punjab’s annual development plan for the current fiscal year, followed by Rs51 billion for 2025–2026, Rs49 billion for 2026–2027, Rs38 billion for 2027–2028, and approximately Rs32 billion for 2028–2029; however, this amount does not include the Rs19.5 billion demand made by the defence authorities.
