Bolstering efforts: Asian Development Bank to help K-P in power sector

Offers technological assistance to expedite work on hydropower projects

PESHAWAR: Asian Development Bank has offered technical and financial assistance to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, in essence, investing in the power sector. The decision was made when a team from ADB visited K-P to plan their investment, stated a handout issued from the energy and power department on Sunday.

At the meeting, Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) Chief Executive Officer Akbar Ayub Khan briefed the ADB team about ongoing and upcoming hydropower projects in K-P. Akbar Ayub added 356 micro hydropower projects were being developed in areas where people are deprived of electricity.



The ADB team lauded the K-P government’s efforts and planned to introduce the Result-Based Landing technology so these projects could be completed within the shortest period of time. The bank also expressed an interest in developing high-capacity power projects in K-P.

Work on hydropower projects in the province is seemingly picking up pace as recently Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority has introduced a scheme in Swat to train technicians at micro hydropower plants in K-P.



Surprise visits are also being made by officials to keep check on the pace of work on hydropower projects. A handout issued on January 24 quoted the energy and power secretary, Naeem Khan, as saying the incumbent provincial government is working to fast track hydel projects in the region. Naeem said work should be expedited and warned poor quality of work would not be tolerated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2016.