'Kohala, Azad Pattan projects to produce 1800MW hydel power, 8,000 jobs'

The CPEC Authority was thanked for facilitating the realisation of the Kohala and Azad Pattan power projects, by Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haider, and the chief executive officers (CEOs) of China Three Gorges and China Gezhouba. 

This was announced by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa in a tweet on Friday.

The meetings, held separately, discussed the process of the two projects' execution.

The CPEC chairman stated that a total of 1800MW of hydel power will be produced under the projects, whereas 8,000 jobs will also be created.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet had on June 26 allowed the Power Division to proceed with the development of Kohala and Azad Pattan hydroelectric power projects in a bid to pave the way for attracting $3.7 billion in investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Work on these two power projects had come to a halt because of a row over different issues.

The Kohala hydroelectric power project will be developed on Jhelum River in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and is being implemented by the Kohala Hydropower Company Private Limited (KHCL) with China Three Gorges Corporation, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Silk Road Fund as sponsors.

The Azad Pattan hydroelectric power project will be built on the dual boundary between Rawalpindi district (Punjab) and Sudhnoti district (AJK). It is being developed by Azad Pattan Power Private Limited (APPL) with China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) as the sponsor.

The signing ceremony of the Azad Pattan Hydel Project was held on July 6, with Prime Minister Imran Khan as the chief guest.