Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Irrigation, Riaz Khan, formally inaugurated the Rs870 million "Dredging of Critical Waterways" project in District Buner. The project aims to protect human settlements from flood hazards and restore agricultural lands affected by recent flooding in the district.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony was attended by officers of the Irrigation Department Buner, sub-divisional engineers, sub-engineers, local elders, community representatives, and a large number of residents. During the event, the minister was given a detailed briefing on the project. He was informed that work would commence shortly on the dredging and rehabilitation of streams, water channels, and critical waterways damaged by recent floods in District Buner.
Project Scope and Benefits
The project includes the cleaning of major waterways, strengthening of embankments, and improvement of water flow to reduce flood risks and enhance water management. Officials highlighted that the project would help protect thousands of acres of agricultural land from future flood threats and provide direct benefits to local farmers by safeguarding their livelihoods and improving agricultural productivity.
Minister's Remarks
Addressing the gathering, Riaz Khan said that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, is giving equal priority to development initiatives across all districts of the province. “The people of Buner have entrusted us with their mandate, and we are committed to fulfilling that trust. This Rs870 million project will prove to be a milestone for Buner,” he said.
He added that the project would not only contribute significantly to flood mitigation but would also strengthen agriculture and the local economy. “Our objective is to ensure the efficient utilization of water resources throughout the province to improve the quality of life of our citizens,” he said.
Sustainability and Maintenance
The KP minister also directed the concerned officers to ensure the proper maintenance and long-term sustainability of the project so that local communities could continue to benefit from it for years to come.
Community Response
Local elders and community representatives expressed their gratitude to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the provincial minister for launching the important initiative in Buner. They described the project as highly significant for the district and expressed hope that the government would continue to address the region’s developmental needs through similar public welfare projects in the future.
