Chen Qiufa, Administrator State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry (SASTIND) called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Raffles Beijing Hotel.- APP Photo

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Engineer Farkhand Iqbal on Wednesday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government in Beijing in the presence of the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari.

Under the MoU, China will help in channeling water supply of 200 million gallon per day from Ghazi Barotha to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Presently, CDA supply 65 million gallon water per day to the residents of the Federal Capital from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam and tube-wells, installed in different sectors of the city and facing a deficiency of 85 million gallon water per day. After supply of water from Ghazi Barotha water reservoir to Islamabad will overcome this deficiency.

Under the MoU, the experts of a Chinese company will visit Islamabad to work on modalities and technical study of a water supply project.

The project of supply of water from Ghazi Barotha to Islamabad was considered in 2005, however, due to some reservation by the provinces on distribution of water from Indus River, the project was not executed.

Expressing his views on the occasion of MoU signing, Chairman CDA, Engineer Farkhand Iqbal said that all codal formalities would be met for supply of water from Ghazi Barotha and work on the project will start by September 2012.

He said that China will help in development of Sector I-15, adding that 6000 flats would be constructed in the sector. China will provide $1.2 billion for the development of different projects in the Federal Capital.

He said that the time has come to initiate and complete the longstanding development projects, which would be a milestone in the history of development of Islamabad.

Opinion

Editorial

Maulana’s message
Updated 11 Mar, 2025

Maulana’s message

The problem now is that most jihadi fighters, ideologues refuse to end their "struggle" on advice of state or mainstream clerics.
President’s speech
11 Mar, 2025

President’s speech

PRESIDENT Asif Zardari, addressing Monday’s joint session of parliament to mark the start of a new parliamentary...
Indian takeover
11 Mar, 2025

Indian takeover

BY the time the Champions Trophy final ended, the only indicators that the tournament had been hosted by Pakistan...
Mosquito season
10 Mar, 2025

Mosquito season

AS temperatures rise, the threat of dengue looms large over Pakistan. Its warning signs have already arrived. Dengue...
Reckless rhetoric
10 Mar, 2025

Reckless rhetoric

ONCE again, the Indian leadership gave in to their worst impulses, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar...
Water scarcity
Updated 10 Mar, 2025

Water scarcity

The need to meet climate challenge is even greater when Pakistan is prone to multiple disastrous events at the same time.