PEDO to help power K-P’s industrial estates

Decision aims to utilise economical dispatch of power to the industrial sector

PESHAWAR: As the province strives to push for greater industrialisation, it has been decided that industrial estates and special economic zones in the province will be powered by existing and future hydropower projects

This power will be supplied by a transmission and dispatch company which the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government is working to set up.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by the Special Advisor to K-P Chief Minister on Commerce and Industries Abdul Karim Khan on Tuesday. The meeting discussed the possibility of using electricity from hydel power projects which have already been developed and those that will be developed by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO).

Karim said that the province has an abundance of natural resources and the special economic zones (SEZ) will be strategically prioritised and developed based on the availability of cheap hydel power in their vicinity, availability of raw materials, and strengths of districts.

The special advisor further said the decision is aimed to make the industrial sector competitive by utilising economical dispatch of electricity to the industrial sector.

For this purpose, he said that the government is ready to consider the possibility of attracting investment in such projects through public-private partnerships. He further said that such an initiative will prove to be a tremendous boost for the economy of the province apart from creating employment opportunities.

Earlier, the special advisor spoke at a ceremony in Charsadda where he said that the provincial government is taking serious measures to revamp local industries by employing new technologies and designs which will be enlisted in the industry for the elimination of poverty in rural areas.

He said that the provincial government has also adopted poverty reduction measures in rural areas while local industries — including the cottage industries of Charsadda —have been put on the right track.

Karim further said the government is striving to introduce the famous Charsadda chappal on international forums and soon the industry will have access to Central Asian and gulf markets. However, he urged artisans to bring innovation to their products.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2020.