Orientation Workshop at Dera Ghazi Khan

PIDA has planned to organize an orientation workshop at the Area Water Board of Dera Jaat Canal Circle on April 18, 2012 in the committee room of Chief Engineer Irrigation D.G.Khan.

The purpose of the workshop is to apprise the staff of provincial Irrigation Department about their role in institutional reforms process of irrigation sector. The Chief Executive of t he AWB, Executive Engineers, Sub Divisional Officers and the Ziladars working in the jurisdiction of Dera Jaat Area Water Board will participate in the workshop. Muhammad Aslam Qureshi, Technical Advisor JICA and Muhammad Waqar Khan, Ex-Chief Engineer Irrigation/General Manager (TM) PIDA will participate in the workshop as Resource Persons. The participants of the workshop would also be given orientation about the “Training Materials for Professional Staff of PID/FOs and AWBs. 

Abiana Recovery Campaign

The General Manager (OP) Ch. Karamat Ali has directed all the Chief Executives of the Area Water Boards in Punjab to recover the pended Abiana amount as arrears of Land Revenue. He also has advised the Chief Executives to especially launch the recovery campaigns in their jurisdictions and direct field staff to motivate the Chairmen of Khal Panchayts in this regard. 

Workshop for TOT Manuals Editing

A Training of Trainers workshop in the committee room of PIDA was organized under “Strengthening Irrigated Agriculture through Participatory Irrigation Management (SIAP) Project under JICA to discuss the editing process, promote editing works through introducing one of the tools to help the manual writing.

The nominated representatives from PIDA, Agriculture Extension and Water Management wings of Punjab Agriculture Department attended the workshop. The Training Specialist of SIAP-JICA Takashi Fujisaki coordinated the workshop and practically involved the participants in the editing process of TOT Guidelines manual.

Documentary on Socio Environmental issues

PIDA management has advised its environmental specialists to prepare a documentary for awareness raising among the farmers to mitigate the social and environmental challenges which have been identified while implementing the irrigation projects. In this regard, the Deputy General Manager (TM) Najmus Saqib Rehmani will coordinate with the Social & Environmental Management Unit (SEMU) team.      

The said documentary will be shown to the farming community with the primary focus to urge them for the payment of Abiana so that the irrigation system could run in their interest on sustainable basis. 

Dissemination of Irrigation Sector Reforms through Radio Programs

The General Manager (OP) Ch. Karamat Ali participated in recording of Radio Program “Khait Khait Haryali” to discuss the importance of water for food security. He also dwelled upon the role of government for the better utilization of irrigation water. The said program has been broadcasted on World Water Day.

Likewise, Deputy General Manager (TM) Najmus Saqib Rehmani participated in the recording of another Radio Program “Sar Sabz Pakistan” which was broadcasted in all over the Punjab province for the orientation of farming community about the conservation of water by adopting the latest water saving techniques.

Both the programs have been highly appreciated by the stakeholders of PIDA. The same activity will also be repeated during the up coming months to create awareness about the better Abiana collection and control over water theft. 

Training of PIDA staff for Website Up Gradation

The PIDA website is being revamped in collaboration with Punjab Information Technology Board Lahore.  In this regard, PIDA management decided to train the concerned staff from PITB so that the further up gradation of the website could be possible by avoiding the wastage of time and resources. The computer cell staff has been deputed for the training which will be responsible for the improvement of the said website. 

Seminar on World Water Day

The Government of Punjab will organize a seminar to celebrate the World Water Day  at Government Engineering Academy, Lahore on March 22,2012  to create awareness among society about the importance of water for food security  . 

The Minister for Irrigation/ Chairman PIDA Ahmad Ali Aulakh will preside the seminar while Secretary Irrigation Punjab/ Managing Director PIDA Ch.Khalid Masood will give a special address to the participants.  Besides many others, the General Manager (Op) PIDA, Ch. Karamat Ali, Deputy General Manager (TM) Najmus Saqib Rehmani, Chairman Area Water Board, Lower Chenab Canal (West) Malik Shamsher Khan will attend the seminar. 

The seminar will be helpful for awareness raising about the efficient use of water and its conservation.