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This paper attempts to evaluate the Chashma Right Bank Irrigation Project (CRBIP) and formulate strategy for regional irrigation management using the SWOT approach. The study area (D.I. Khan District) falls in the arid agro-ecological zone of Pakistan, where availability of water for irrigation is a serious issue. In this article, emphasis has been put on identifying both the external and internal positive and negative factors of CRBIP and the proposed Chashma Right Bank 1st Lift Irrigation Project (CRB1stLIP). For SWOT activity, ten indicators were tested: namely land use, cropping pattern, cropping intensity, agricultural production, irrigation, groundwater table, seed, mechanization, fertilizer, pesticides and waterlogging. Data pertaining to these variables were obtained from both primary and secondary sources, including farmers, community leaders, line agencies, technical experts, local administrators and focus group discussion with the key stakeholders. The SWOT analysis was undertaken for all the selected variables and the result deduced in light of the socio-economic and physio-ecological environment of the area. The article clearly explains the available strengths and opportunities in the land and agricultural sector for regional irrigation management and for eliminating the negative effects of CRBIP. On the basis of the SWOT analysis, the article also provides strategies for accelerating positive factors and mitigating the harmful consequences. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.