DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF PAKISTAN

8. New irrigation works and anti-waterlogging measures, involving the lowering of the water table in swampy ground, are of central importance to the plan. It is expected that 6,000,000 acres will benefit from the measures. Depending on the system of water distribution, 4,000,000 acres will come under double cropping. The distribution and use of improved varieties of seeds and fertilisers and the partial mechanisation of agriculture, for which an expenditure of Rs. 272 million has been provided in the plan, are expected to be responsible for an appreciable proportion of the increase in production to be achieved by 1957. Table 12. —Pakistan : Production under Agricultural Section of Programme thousand tons Estimated Increasedue Increase Percentage Present output to larger due to Total increase output 1957 acreage higher yield increase in output Cereals and pulses ... 15,046 17,596 1,848 702 2,550 17 Food cash crops (oilseeds, vegetables, sugarcane, fruits, tea) ... 5,004 9,309 3,055 1,250 4,305 86 Total food crops ... 20,050 26,905 4,903 1,952 6,855 34 Non-food cash crops (jute, tobacco, cotton) ... 1,359 1,547 122 66 188 14 Total 21,409 28,453 5,025 2,018 7,043 33 Note.—The increase in production of other agricultural commodities, e.g., wool, hides and skins, forest products, milk products and fodder is estimated at about 55 million tons. Of this total, 48 million tons represent fodder, 5 million tons forest products and 1,300,000 tons milk products. Notable features of the agricultural plan are the expected increases in the production of oil-seeds by 220 per cent., sugar-cane by 70 per cent., vegetables by 68 per cent., fruits by 90 per cent., cotton by 27 per cent., and jute by 10 per cent. The expected increase in the output of rice of more than 500,000 tons will be sufficient to meet the needs of Eastern Pakistan. More generally, the programme will help to bring down the price of essential foodstuffs and should permit some increase in the standard of living. 9. Fuel and Power. —In a country with such limited resources of oil and coal, hydro-electric power is of crucial importance. Without adequate power there can be little progress in other sections of the plan. Power is essential to future development in both agriculture and industry. The hydro-electric power potential in Pakistan is 5-6,000,000 kilowatts against which present installed capacity is only 9,600 kilowatts. Thermal stations provide another 59,500 kilowatts. In a population of 82 million, the rate of consumption of electricity per head is one of the lowest in the world. In view of the existing unsatisfied demand and of the extra demand which will be created by the development programme, it is proposed to build new stations capable of generating an additional 200,000 kilowatts of hydro-electric power and about 56,000 kilowatts of thermal power at a cost of R5.450 million. This: will supply the power needed for the extensive new pumping and irrigation projects contemplated in the plan, for the jute and cotton factories which are to be set up and for the machinery which will be used in modernising the mines. The additional power will also enable Pakistan to dispense with the supply of electricity which at present is imported from India and which may not always be available. Following a survey by professional consultants, the Pakistan Government is taking steps to increase the output of coal.

10270

A 10

23