RAWALPINDI: The last date to submit applications is 15th October for the financial assistance program offered by the Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD) Punjab to the farmers particularly of Barani area for the construction of the mini dam, water ponds and water storage tanks.
According to Director General, ABAD, Rawalpindi, Dr. Ethasham Anwar, the financial assistance up to Rs 1.5 million would be provided to the farming community for the construction of mini-dam, Rs 500,000 for the construction of water ponds, water storage tanks, rooftop harvesting and lift irrigation scheme.  Similarly, Rs 300,000 will be given for construction of dug well and shallow tube-well. The financial assistance is being offered here to the farmers of Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, and Rawalpindi in the division. The program has been offered to the community at the village level.
Old associations formed under the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) are eligible for the program while new associations can also be made in this connection. The application forms can be received from the offices of NRSP.  For further information, ABAD helpline 1095 can be contacted with its website www.abad.punjab.gov.pk. An ABAD spokesman informed that the agency had completed 40 public funded projects including agriculture sector, institution development, multi-sectoral project, afforestation, range management, agriculture mechanism, livestock development, soil, and water conservation and water resource development by investing eight billion rupees for the uplift of the marginalized population of Punjab Barani Tract and working on six projects costing Rs 845 million.
ABAD has also completed five donor funded projects including sustainable livelihood in Barani areas project, second barani areas development project, Barani village development project, small dams umbrella project and first Barani area development project for the uplift of the farmers of Punjab Barani Tract. He said the department was working to transform the socio-economic landscape of Barani region by creating enormous avenues of livelihood and implementing the development programs for the Barani areas of the province through coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the departments responsible for the execution of the development schemes in these areas.
ABAD is striving to increase the agricultural productivity of Barani areas, reduce the soil losses, promote efficient use of groundwater, improve management of forestry, fisheries and livestock resources and promote employment and commercial opportunities for rural communities, he added.