LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Tuesday awarded a contract to a joint venture of M/s China Guangxi Corporation and Ramzan & Sons (Pvt.) Limited for construction of main canal, earthwork, lining and remaining works of structures (3R) stretching over 13 kilometres of phase-1 of Kachhi Canal Project.

The contract would incur a cost of Rs2.848 billion and the work would complete by June 30 this year. The contract was signed at a ceremony here by GM (Central) Water Ghulam Abbas Anjum and Mansoor Ramzan Baloch on behalf of their respective organisations.

Wapda chairman Zafar Mahmood described the KachhiCanalProject(Phase1) as a mega initiative of vital importance for socioeconomic development of the country. He said the project held a unique significance for Balochistan whose major problem was water shortage.

Executive Engineer (Balochistan Irrigation Department) Sheikh Zaman Ali appreciated the efforts of Wapda for timely completion of the project.