KHYBER AGENCY: A four thousand two hundred and twenty six metre long irrigation channel, constructed under the Governor Special Development Programme (GSDP) was inaugurated at the Meri Khel, Aka Khel area of Tehsil Bara on Monday. In this connection, a simple gathering was initiated that was attended by Khyber Agency Political Agent Khalid Mehmood as chief guest besides a number of tribal elites and Federally Administered Tribal Areas secretary and administration officials. The administration’s top official unveiled the plaque to formally launch the canal. Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Mehmood said that the government intended to develop the tribal belt and the established project was part of it. He urged the tribals to get advantage of the newly erected water channel and instead of misusing their time, grow gardens and enhance cultivation to make the area self-sufficient in food items. Sharing details of the project, GSDP Khyber engineer Zafar said that the Minor E scheme had been completed in two phases with a cost of Rs27 million. He added that approximately 3,500 acre land would be irrigated that would benefit thousands of families of Aka Khel. The dwellers of the area expressed their delight on the completion of the development work, as they had earlier complained that the water was getting wasted but now it would be utilised for agricultural purposes and would create a green revolution in Bara. Published in Daily Times, March 6th 2018.