ISLAMABAD, October 27, 2026: A three-year irrigation modernisation project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has completed its third phase, introducing a satellite-based decision-support system designed to improve the efficiency and fairness of water distribution across Punjab’s agricultural canal network.
The project’s progress was presented at a workshop on Intelligent Decision Support for Irrigation Water Management, held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), where experts highlighted the need to modernise irrigation allocation rules alongside investments in physical infrastructure.
The initiative has developed a Rotation Advisory Module (RAM) through collaboration between LUMS, the Punjab Irrigation Department (PID) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, with financial support from ADB.
The system combines satellite-based estimates of Relative Water Deficit (RWD) with mathematical optimisation techniques to recommend irrigation water allocations according to crop requirements.
It also considers existing canal rotation priorities and operational constraints to support more equitable distribution of available water.
Initially piloted on selected canals in the Balloki–Okara division, the module has been extended to all rotation channels of the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) system, which irrigates approximately 675,000 hectares of agricultural land in Punjab.
Addressing the workshop, ADB Water Management Consultant Dr S. A. Prathapar said irrigation modernisation required fundamental improvements in the rules governing water distribution rather than focusing exclusively on canal construction.
“When we think about modernizing the irrigation system, we only think about building a canal. But we have to modernize the software behind it. The rules behind it. And that’s what this project is about,” he said.
Dr Prathapar explained that traditional irrigation performance indicators primarily measured whether the planned quantity of water had been delivered, without necessarily determining whether crops had received sufficient water.
He said satellite-based monitoring could help bridge this gap by identifying water deficits and informing allocation recommendations for upcoming irrigation rotations.
Dr Abubakr Muhammad of LUMS highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s irrigation network for agricultural productivity, food security and rural livelihoods.
He said the system faced growing challenges from climate change, uncertain water availability and increasing agricultural production costs, particularly energy expenses.
According to Dr Muhammad, advances in satellite remote sensing, near-real-time monitoring and intelligent decision-support systems could help irrigation authorities make more informed decisions based on actual field and canal conditions.
“These tools also allow us to be equitable, to be just, to be fair,” he said.
He emphasised that technological solutions must also consider social equity, institutional governance and fairness in water distribution.
Representing ADB, Principal Water Resource Specialist Ryutaro Takaku-Bessho reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s agriculture and water sectors.
He said improving irrigation management was essential for addressing climate vulnerability, strengthening food security and building resilience in rural communities.
“In addition to physical infrastructure, ADB is proud to support the current project, which targets the critical software of the sector, the operational rules that govern the government’s vast water networks,” he said.
During the technical sessions, FAO representative Waqas Karim Awan presented methods for estimating crop water requirements through satellite remote sensing.
LUMS researcher Dr Hassan Jaleel explained the operation of the near-real-time Rotation Advisory Module, while Dr Athar Ashraf discussed its integration with the Punjab Irrigation Department’s Irrigation Decision Support System (IDSS).
The workshop was attended by senior representatives from the Punjab Irrigation and Agriculture Departments, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Ministry of Water Resources, Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).
Participants examined opportunities for expanding the system, including institutional coordination, further technical validation, farmer engagement and the integration of rainfall forecasts.
Experts noted that incorporating weather predictions could improve the system’s ability to respond to changing agricultural and climatic conditions.
The initiative is intended to complement Pakistan’s existing canal infrastructure and water-sharing arrangements by providing data-driven recommendations to irrigation managers.
However, participants emphasised that its long-term effectiveness would depend on successful integration into departmental operations, institutional support and wider adoption by irrigation authorities.
The project represents an effort to introduce modern digital technologies into Pakistan’s irrigation management system, with the potential to improve water-use efficiency, agricultural productivity and fairness in distribution.