Masud Ahmad Khan<\/p>\n
Pakistan has some of the famous deserts of the world namely Cholistan Desert, Thal Desert, Thar Desert and Kharan Desert. Cholistan and Thal deserts are located in Punjab whereas Thar and Kharan Deserts in Sindh and Balochistan respec\u00adtively. Cholistanz Desert (Rohi) covers an area of 26300 square Kilometers of area. The Cho\u00adlistan desert connected with the Indian Rajas\u00adthan Desert in the East and Tharparkar in the South. The Cholistan Desert located on the pe\u00adriphery of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Ra\u00adhim Yar Khan. The length of the desert is 480 Kilometers from North to South and width ranges from 30 to 192 kilometers. The region is famous for livestock to include cattle, camels, sheep and goats which are playing a significant role in the country\u2019s economy. The main source of water are tobas where rain water is collected in natural depression or man made ponds. The ground water at places is sweet, mar\u00adginal and brackish. Historically, Cholistan desert was fertile watered by Hakra River. The Pakistan Army\u2019s Strategic Project Division through Green Pakistan Ini\u00adtiative under Special Investment Facilitation Centre (SIFC) has launched the process to reclaim, waste, bar\u00adren and unused government land across Pakistan. The land which remains the property of provinces only given for the cultivation purposes. In this regard the initial focus of Green Pakistan Initiative is Cholistan Desert. The Pakistan Army has experience of manag\u00ading lands through its Land Directorate by developing waste land, which is to be given to the wards of mar\u00adtyrs family and war wounded personnel.
\nPakistan has an area of 79.6 million hectares with over 22 million hectares under cultivation. Pakistan is 15th longest producer in agriculture production and 8th largest in wheat production. According to media sources, Pakistan\u2019s agriculture imports are amounting to 10 Billions Dollars. Pakistan facing 4 million met\u00adric ton shortfall in wheat production against a total de\u00admand of 30.8 million metric ton. The green Pakistan is the vision of the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Mu\u00adnir to address food security in Pakistan by reclaiming barren, waste and unused land across Pakistan. Paki\u00adstan\u2019s first agriculture revolution was in 1960 due to the introduction of new varieties of seeds, construc\u00adtion of dams and use of modern agriculture practic\u00ades. In Cholistan for the first time approximately one lac acres of land have been cultivated\/ developed within very short span of time of time. Under the Green Paki\u00adstan Initiative advanced technologies (smart farming) will be incorporated beside using modern agriculture equipment and high efficiency irrigation system. Doz\u00adens of Chinese containers carrying agriculture equip\u00adment for Green Pakistan Initiative have crossed Khun\u00adjerab Pass (15400 feet) into Pakistan during snow season. This is a significant milestone in the country\u2019s agriculture development.
\nThe focus of Green Pakistan Initiative is high efficien\u00adcy irrigation system which include the central pivot system, drip irrigation, sprinklers and rain guns. Con\u00adversion to such irrigation system will certainly ensure water conservation, which is the need of time. Provi\u00adsion of water through canal \/ pipeline has been planned which will be functional soon to reclaim uncultivated waste land. To transform barren \/ waste land into sus\u00adtainable farmland the Green Pakistan initiative has launched the state of art Land Information and Man\u00adagement System (LIMS). LIMS will provide all mod\u00adern farming technical assistance to farmers \/ investors across the country. In a short time the Green Pakistan Initiative spearheaded by Pakistan Army has demon\u00adstrated the commitment to reclaim barren and waste land across Pakistan to bring Pakistan out of food secu\u00adrity challenges. This will reduce country\u2019s reliance on agriculture related imports. Cholistan desert will be\u00adcome green with the use of modern technology, high ef\u00adficiency irrigation system and above all sheer determi\u00adnation \/ commitment of Pakistan Army to the cause.
\nThe writer is a retired brigadier and freelance columnist. He tweets at @MasudAKhan6<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Masud Ahmad Khan Pakistan has some of the famous deserts of the world namely Cholistan Desert, Thal Desert, Thar Desert and Kharan Desert. Cholistan and Thal deserts are located in Punjab whereas Thar and Kharan Deserts in Sindh and Balochistan respec\u00adtively. Cholistanz Desert (Rohi) covers an area of 26300 square Kilometers of area. The Cho\u00adlistan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[13047],"class_list":{"0":"post-392431","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-masud-ahmad-khan"},"yoast_head":"\n