Agriculture sector is indispensable to Pakistan’s economic growth and food security. This sector during the year 2022-23 achieved only a 1.55% growth rate.

Heavy flooding in 2022 resulted in a loss of 1.7 million acres of farmland and 30 billion USD, affecting more than 33 million people.

Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI) was launched in July 2023 to expand cultivable land, optimize land use, minimize water loses, increase productivity, and attract foreign investment. To address the issue pertaining to provision of water, the government embarked on construction of six strategic canals on a fast-track basis by the year 2030.

Mehfooz Shaheed Canal, also known as Cholistan Canal, will irrigate 1.2 million acres of land in Greater Cholistan. Rainee Canal Phase-2 will irrigate 0.4 million acres of land in Nara Region. Greater Thal Canal will irrigate 1.5 million acres of land in Thal Doab region.

Thar Canal, as an escape channel for the Rainee Canal, to be operated during high floods, will irrigate 0.3 million acres of land in Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Sanghar and Mirpur Khas.

Chashma Right Bank will irrigate 0.3 million acres of land in KPK and Punjab. Lastly, Kachi Canal will irrigate 0.7 million acres of land in Punjab and Balochistan.

As flagship project of GPI, the government of Punjab leased 0.7 million acres of barren land........

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