In an important development for Pakistan’s energy sector, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has signed a contract agreement with the Chinese construction company for the construction of the 300 MW Balakot Hydro Power Project, the biggest ever project of hydropower generation under the provincial government.
The 300-megawatt power project will be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 85.00 billion in a period of six years with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank.
A ceremony to this effect was held here on Tuesday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan as chief guest. Concerned authorities of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization and Chinese construction company signed the contract agreement to start physical work on the project.
Besides provincial cabinet members Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Himayatullah khan, the event was also attended by the high-ups of the Energy and Power Department.
Talking on this occasion the Chief Minister termed the project as of vital importance for the province and milestone achievement of the provincial government and said that groundbreaking of the project is expected to be performed by the mid of next month adding that hopefully, Prime Minister Imran Khan would himself perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the mega project.
Mahmood Khan stated that the project on completion, will play an important role in boosting industrial activities, job creation, and overall development of the province adding that during the construction phase, the project will generate around 4,000 job opportunities whereas on completion, it is expected to generate a revenue of Rs. 14 billion per annum.
Mahmood Khan maintained that power generated by the Balakot Hydropower project will be provided to local industries as well as domestic consumers at relatively cheaper rates.
The chief minister said that the incumbent provincial government was taking result-oriented steps under a well-devised strategy to ensure optimum utilization of the hydropower potentials of the province with the aim to meet its energy requirements and strengthen its economy adding that so far various hydropower projects with a total capacity of 160 megawatts have been completed under PEDO, whereas work is in progress on various other projects having a total capacity of 216 Mega Watts.
PPP needs to read this news and take it to heart. Instead of trying to bring down the central govt., they should focus on development in Sindh, which they have been in charge of for several decades. Despite the 18th Amendment, no progress has been made in Sindh and Bilawal Bhutto still does not accept his party’s failure.
Sindh ki awaam kiun vote deti aur un k jalson main jati hai? Bilawal ki aik awaaz pe bachy boorry sub jama ho jaty hain,
Sindh ki awaam unka saath dena choarr dyn, PPP khud hi khatam ho jaye gi Sindh main b
Great step forward by KP government. Hydro energy is best and cheapest.
K.p government is doing best in all over pakistan other provincial governments should notice and learn from it, especially balochistan government which is our poorest region.