ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $150 million loan to upgrade Trimmu and Panjnad barrages in Punjab.
In a statement, the ADB’s water resources specialist Akhtar Ali said that the project assistance will help provide more reliable irrigation water supplies to over 1.7 million hectares of farmland benefiting about 600,000 farming families. It will help reduce the flood risks in the future.
The project will rehabilitate 80 years old barrages and improve their capacity to cope with increased floodwaters and reduce the flood risks substantially resulting in less loss of lives, livestock, crops, and homes.
Through this project, support will also be extended to train the Punjab irrigation department staff and community members in flood risk and integrated water resources management.
The project will run for about five years with an expected completion in September 2020.
