WB to fund two power projects in Swat

Completion of two hydropower projects of 245 megawatts to generate an annual income of more than Rs13 billion

PESHAWAR:

The World Bank (WB) will start two hydropower projects of 245 megawatts in district Swat of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) this year, the completion of which will generate an annual income of more than Rs13 billion.

It has been decided to add a security package by making quick amendments to the documents before starting these energy projects.

This decision was taken in a high-level meeting with the WB mission chaired by the Secretary Energy and Power Nisar Ahmad Khan.

WB Senior Energy Specialist Muhammad Saqib, along with other members of the mission, Chief Executive PEDO Engineer Naeem Khan, Chief Engineer of KHRE Program Shah Hussain and respective project directors also participated in the meeting.

Engineer Naeem Khan during his presentation said that with the financial support of the WB, the construction work on the two projects will be started this year, which include 157 MW Maidyen Hydropower Project and 88 MW Gabral Kalam Project.

In this regard, a $450 million agreement has already been signed between the WB and the K-P government.

Moreover, these projects will be completed by 2027.

In the meeting, secretary energy said that both power projects are very important for the development of the province, the completion of which will start a new era of prosperity.

The projects will bring huge investment in the province on the one hand, and create new employment opportunities on the other, he added.

He assured the WB mission that the provincial government is making fool-proof arrangements for the security of the staff working on the energy projects and is in touch with the local police, administration and other security agencies.

He issued instructions to the officials to prepare a security package and start practical work on the schemes so that the people of the province could reap its fruits soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2023.