Kohat fast-tracks farm projects as water shortages bite.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Aftab Alam has ordered the immediate completion of ongoing agricultural development projects for small farmers in Kohat, warning that delays could hurt crop output amid worsening water shortages.
Chairing a high-level review meeting, Aftab Alam directed the relevant departments to accelerate work on all schemes, particularly those linked to irrigation, to ensure farmers receive timely water ahead of the upcoming planting season.
Officials from the Kohat District Development Project (KDDP), local government representatives and senior officers from the agriculture and livestock departments briefed the minister on the progress of projects funded through oil and gas royalty revenues. The meeting focused on the solarization of existing tube wells and other agricultural support initiatives.
Authorities highlighted the implementation bottlenecks, technical issues and fund utilization, as declining water levels in dams raise concerns for vegetable and orchard cultivation in the district.
“With water reserves falling and the cropping season approaching, strengthening irrigation systems is no longer optional,” Alam said, instructing the officials to remove delays in solar tube well projects and enhance field-level monitoring to ensure uninterrupted water supply to farmers.
He reiterated that agriculture remains the backbone of the provincial economy and supporting small farmers is a top government priority. Alam also ordered the departments to set clear timelines for project completion and submit weekly progress reports.
At the close of the meeting, officials pledged to resolve all obstacles and complete the schemes within the stipulated timeframe to mitigate the impact of water scarcity and boost agricultural productivity in Kohat.