Afridi inaugurates dam, road projects in Dir

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday undertook a day-long visit to District Dir Lower, where he inaugurated two key development projects, including the long-awaited 40.8-megawatt Koto Hydropower Project.

Completed at a cost of Rs21.7 billion, the project is expected to produce 207 million units of electricity annually, generating an estimated Rs2.4 billion in revenue each year. Officials said the hydropower initiative is among the province's most significant steps toward strengthening energy self-sufficiency and supporting sustainable economic growth.

During his visit, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the 18.5-kilometre Tormang-Razgram Road, constructed at a cost of Rs1.5 billion. The new road is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and facilitate socio-economic activities in the area.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, CM Afridi said the provincial government was pursuing a long-term strategy aimed at transforming K-P's vast hydropower potential into a backbone of economic development. He said clean and green energy initiatives would not only strengthen the provincial economy but also create new employment opportunities through the expansion of local industries.

The Chief Minister announced that work on the province's first-ever 120-kilometre power transmission line was also progressing. Once completed, the system will transmit electricity from 11 local hydropower stations directly to industries within K-P.

He said the government intends to offer electricity to local industries at concessional rates to spur industrial growth and curb unemployment.

Afridi reiterated that the provincial administration was fully committed to establishing its own power distribution network, arguing that the people of K-P had the foremost right to the province's natural resources. He expressed concern over delays in the issuance of NOCs for foreign engineers working on development projects in the province, stressing that such delays slow down progress and result in financial losses for both the province and the nation.

Speaking about former prime minister Imran Khan, the Chief Minister said he admired Khan's focus on public welfare. "I feel proud when I see the projects he initiated," he said, adding that the former premier launched long-term development plans without seeking credit for inaugurations.

Afridi also repeated his long-standing position that the federal government owes K-P Rs3 trillion in unpaid dues, funds he described as essential for the province's development agenda.

The ceremony was attended by PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and elected representatives from Dir Lower.