In FY 2026-27
PA body orders detailed report on Mardan water management schemes
JAVED KHAN MOHMAND
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs7.2 billion for 62 agriculture development schemes under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year 2026-27, the Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Agriculture was informed on Thursday.
The committee, which met at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat under the chairmanship of Abdul Salam Afridi, received a detailed briefing on the Agriculture Department’s ongoing and proposed development projects, their budgetary allocations and implementation status.
Officials informed the committee that Rs5.4bn had been allocated for 35 ongoing schemes, while Rs1.8bn had been earmarked for 27 new development projects during the current fiscal year. The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Chief Minister on Agriculture Mian Umar, MPAs Mian Sharafat Ali, Sher Ali Afridi, Zarshad Khan, Daud Shah and Fazal Elahi, the agriculture secretary, senior departmental officials, representatives of the Advocate General’s Office and Provincial Assembly Secretariat officials.
The committee was briefed on projects relating to the promotion of modern agricultural machinery, solar-powered tube wells, smart irrigation systems, olive and pistachio cultivation, virus-free potato seed production, tissue culture laboratories, agricultural research, women-led agricultural enterprises, honey production, hemp research, interest-free loans for agriculture graduates, scholarships, internship programmes, development of small dam command areas, rehabilitation of degraded agricultural land and agricultural development in the merged districts.
During the meeting, MPA Fazal Elahi expressed concern over the condition of the vegetable market in his constituency, alleging that funds released for its improvement had not been utilised for their intended purpose.
Chairman Abdul Salam Afridi ordered the formation of a subcommittee to investigate the matter. The panel, headed by Fazal Elahi with Zarshad Khan and Sher Ali Afridi as members, will examine the release and utilisation of funds, review the project’s progress and submit its findings to the standing committee.
The chairman also directed the Agriculture Department to present complete details of its vehicles, staff and administrative resources at the next meeting, besides submitting a report on funds allocated for water management projects in Mardan and their utilisation.
He further instructed that officials from the Finance and Planning and Development departments be invited to the next meeting to facilitate a comprehensive review of the implementation and financial management of agriculture development projects.
