Lahore: The Command Area Development Component bid of the Jalalpur Irrigation Project (CAD-JIP) on Wednesday was awarded to a NESPAK-led joint venture, a news source reported. NESPAK Managing Director (MD) Dr Tahir Masood stated that the joint venture won the contract through competitive bidding.
According to details, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to fund the project – which has a construction duration of around four years. The goal of the project is to increase crop production and minimise land degradation by reducing use of marginal quality groundwater.
Moreover, sources have revealed that the project includes the construction of a new irrigation system and appurtenant structures for irrigating around 174,000 acres of land in the Khushab area and Pind Dadan Khan. They said that after completion, the project would benefit more than 225,000 people residing across 80 villages.
Reportedly, NESPAK would provide its services for the constriction and lining (up to 50% in length) of 485 watercourses, installation of a high-efficiency irrigation system on a 2,000-acre land, laser-land levelling of 30,000 acres of land, and construction of 20 water-storage ponds with solar-powered pumping stations for irrigation. Additionally, the corporation would help with capacity development, demonstration activities, extension, and generating awareness.
