Security threat: Korean workers pull out of Kotli hydro power project – for now

AJK authorities fail to beef up security despite reports of possible terrorist action

ISLAMABAD: The fate of the Gulpur Hydro Power Project hangs in the balance after the district administration of Kotli, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, failed to adopt security measures for Korean employees who were forced to leave the project temporarily.

Security agencies had, in a confidential letter to the AJK home secretary, informed the district administration to beef up security at the Gulpur Hydro Project Kotli.

The agencies had claimed in the letter that an Indian border action team was ‘reportedly’ planning to target the Kotli project by planting Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

“In the backdrop of this threat, extra vigilance and enhanced security measure may be adopted at all locations where foreigners are working [including routes of their movement]. Moreover, sensitise concerned quarters for proactive security measures for foreigners,” said the letter available with The Express Tribune.



“These [anti-Pakistan] agencies have pictures of the foreigners who are working on Gulpur Hydro Power Project; and besides harming the project they may target the foreigners anytime. This may result in loss of lives and properties,” the letter added.

The district magistrate, in a separate letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, asked the company, employing the Korean workforce, to immediately beef up their security before any act of terrorism.

The $320 million project is entirely foreign-funded and would have the capacity to generate 102 megawatt of electricity upon its completion. Currently, there are some 20 to 25 Koreans who are part of the administration. All the Koreans have been evacuated from the site and moved to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of the company Sultan Ahmad, when contacted, said that due to security reasons, the Korean management of the company had temporarily moved to Islamabad.

“It’s true that currently no work is being done on the project but hopefully next week the Koreans will come back when the search of the site is completed by the security agencies,” he informed.

According to Ahmed, 40 per cent of the project has been completed and around 750 locals are part of the workforce.

When asked about the district management’s attitude, he said the administrations of smaller cities “don’t have enough experience to tackle such issues effectively”.