Kacchi Canal Repair Cost Spikes to Rs. 14.7 Billion in Just One Year

The cost of repairing the Kacchi canal has surged from Rs. 8.28 billion to Rs. 14.70 billion within a year, marking an increase of approximately Rs. 6.5 billion. According to Planning Commission documents seen by ProPakistani, the rise is attributed to delays in the provision of approved funds in 2023. Documents reveal that Rs. 5.8 billion has been approved for the repairs, while WAPDA will submit a revised PC seeking an additional Rs. 8.9 billion for approval. The repair work, which includes de-silting, restoring damaged structures, and closing cracks, is expected to be completed by the fiscal year 2027. The Ministry of Planning has outlined that 30 percent of the work will be completed in the current fiscal year, 65 percent in the next fiscal year, and the remaining 5 percent in 2027. Despite the urgency, the tender for the repair work has not yet been floated in the current fiscal year. Planning Commission sources attribute the canal’s extensive damage to the monsoon rains of 2022.