Power Generation: Centre releases Rs240m for two projects in G-B

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has released Rs240 million for two small power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). These include Rs140m for 16MW hydropower project at Niltar and Rs100 million for another 20MW hydropower project at Hanzil.

According to official documents seven power projects were approved for Gilgit-Baltistan in the federal public sector development programme. However, funds have been released only for the Niltar and Hanzil power projects.

The centre has yet to provide allocated sums for the remaining power projects in the G-B, official sources said.

The total budget allocated by the federal government through Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs is Rs11.75 billion and Rs4.5 billion has been released for G-B so far. The ministry has also released Rs4.6 billion for various projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir under the PSDP allocations.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2016.