K-P CM pushes timely project execution

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced decisive measures to prevent unnecessary delays in public development projects.

Chairing an important meeting of the Energy and Power Department on Monday, the Chief Minister directed the formulation of new legislation to ensure timely execution of projects according to approved timelines.

He emphasized that the proposed law will include strict penalties for officials responsible for delays, noting that such hindrances not only increase project costs but also erode public trust. "Public development projects are funded by the people's money, negligence in their execution is unacceptable," he said, adding that a zero-tolerance policy will be implemented for any unjustified delay.

During the meeting, CM Afridi also decided to actively pursue the province's pending matters with the federal government. He instructed relevant departments to follow up on issues pending before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) and initiate formal correspondence with federal authorities to safeguard provincial rights.

Focusing on industrial development, the Chief Minister directed preparation of plans for power transmission and distribution from local hydropower stations, stressing that industries would be provided electricity at concessional rates to boost economic recovery and employment.

Officials of the Energy Department briefed the Chief Minister on ongoing projects and administrative affairs. The meeting was informed that Pakistan currently generates 10,625 megawatts of electricity from hydropower, of which 6,000 megawatts originate from K-P.

PEDO's ten operational projects are generating an annual income exceeding Rs14 billion, while three under-construction projects with a total capacity of 452 megawatts are expected to yield Rs26 billion annually.

Additionally, procurement is underway for four new projects of 331 megawatts, expected to generate Rs30 billion per year, while three recently completed schemes will contribute an additional Rs4 billion in annual revenue.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary Energy and Power and heads of the department's subsidiary institutions.