Pakistan, AJK becoming energy independent, says AJK president

Says State will soon be producing over 6,000 MW

MIRPUR: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that Pakistan and AJK are fast becoming self-sufficient in power generation.

“AJK, owing to its water resources, is especially focusing on the production of renewable energy from its rivers and in the next 15 years, we will be able to produce over six-seven thousand megawatts of electricity,” President Masood expressed these in his comments on the eve of the inaugural ceremony of 1,410 MW Tarbela Fourth Extension Hydropower Project on Saturday, AJK Presidential Secretariat Sources told APP on Sunday. This electricity, he said, would be enough to cater to the whole of AJK and shall also contribute to Pakistan’s national grid.

The AJK president attended the historic event marking the commissioning of the first unit of 470 MW under the 1,410 MW 4th extension hydropower project inaugurated by Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday, they said.   He expressed the hope that the project will substantially contribute towards addressing power issues by providing clean and renewable energy in the country.

“Last year on 15th December, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, inaugurated the 147 MW Patrind hydropower project inMuzaffarabad. It is expected that soon he will also inaugurate the first phase of the 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project situated close to the state capital of Muzaffarabad,” the sources underlined.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2018.