By Abdul Ghani

A major irrigation project is set to expand water availability to areas adjoining the proposed CPEC City near Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with plans to develop irrigation infrastructure across a command area covering over 10,930 acres, according to official project documents obtained by Wealth Pakistan.

The documents show that the Pehur High Level Canal Extension (PHLCE) Project – Additional Area: Lot-4 is being implemented with Asian Development Bank support. The project proposes extensive irrigation and command area development (CAD) in strategically located agricultural zones surrounding the CPEC City.

According to the project layout, Lot-4 comprises three major components: the Indus Ambar Additional Command Area (3,234 hectares), the Indus Ambar HEIS/PDN Area (464 hectares), and the Nandrak Area (726 hectares).

The documents reveal that one of the project areas lies south of the M-1 Motorway and west of the Indus Branch Canal, with its western boundary adjoining the proposed CPEC City. The report states that full development of irrigation infrastructure and command area development has been proposed for this zone.

Another component, the Nandrak Area, is located south of CPEC City and north of the Kabul River. According to the document, portions of this area already receive irrigation from the tail of the Indus Branch Canal via the Jahangira and Nandrak minors. However, the project proposes rehabilitation and strengthening of the existing irrigation infrastructure to maximise agricultural productivity.

The largest portion of the scheme, the Indus Ambar Additional Command Area, is situated adjacent to Lot-3. Around half of the area lies between the Maira Branch and the M-1 Motorway, while the remaining land is located south of the motorway on both banks of the Indus Branch Canal. The project recommends the complete development of irrigation facilities and command area infrastructure in this region.

The documents indicate that the proposed works aim to improve water distribution efficiency, expand irrigated agriculture and support economic activity in areas expected to witness rapid development due to the proximity of CPEC City.

The project could significantly enhance agricultural output, improve water management and increase the value of surrounding land once the proposed irrigation network and command area development are completed.

The Pehur High Level Canal Extension Project is among the key irrigation initiatives designed to strengthen Pakistan's agricultural infrastructure while supporting long-term regional development in areas linked with emerging economic corridors.

Credit: INP-WealthPk