KP CM Urges Federal Govt to Fast-Track Funding for Chashma Right Bank Canal Project

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, has written to the Prime Minister urging immediate funding for the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) project through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) or donor financing to kick-start practical work without further delay.

In his letter, CM Afridi expressed deep concern over continuous delays at the federal level, noting that despite 35 years since the project’s inception, no progress has been made. He highlighted that of the four major inter-provincial irrigation projects, only the CRBC lift canal remains unimplemented, while the other three have been completed under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord.

The project’s financing formula, approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in 2016, required 65% funding from the federal government and 35% from KP. However, CM Afridi alleged that the federal government has deliberately stalled large-scale projects in the province.

He added that although the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project in October 2022 at a cost of Rs 189 billion, implementation has yet to begin. Delays in procurement, pre-qualification, and land acquisition by WAPDA are cited as major hurdles. The provincial government has already allocated Rs 7 billion for land acquisition, while the federal PSDP has only provided Rs 100 million.

CM Afridi stressed that the CRBC project is crucial for transforming the agriculture and economy of southern districts affected by terrorism, with the potential to irrigate over 280,000 acres and generate an annual economic benefit of Rs 38 billion. He warned that further delays could escalate public frustration and erode trust in government institutions.

He urged the federal government to release immediate funding and commence practical work on the project without any further postponement.