PESHAWAR, Aug 28: The Gomal Zam Dam project has started producing electricity and added 17.4 megawatts power to the national grid, according to officials.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed the Planning Commission in a recently held meeting to make dam functional when he was informed that the project was complete and officials concerned were waiting for a green signal from the government to start power generation.

It was expected that prime minister would inaugurate the project formally in the next few days.

Saleem Khan, project director of GZDP, told this news agency on Wednesday that 17.4 megawatts power was added to the national grid that would address the issue of energy crises to some extent.

He said that hydro power station was set up in the powerhouse of the dam and its production cost was far less than that of thermal power station.

The project director said that 55 kilometres transmission line from the power station was passing through the mountainous terrain in South Waziristan Agency and Dera Ismail Khan to ultimately join the national grid.

One of the power transmission lines from the project would also be provided to Wana that would resolve the issue of low voltage of electricity in South Waziristan Agency and would minimise load on the national grid.

He said that 191,000 acres barren land of Tank district and Kulachi tehsil of D.I. Khan would be irrigated through the project.

According to a report of Planning Commission, D.I. Khan and Tank are among the 25 poorest districts of the country. The farmers of these areas are either depended on rain or the indigenous irrigation system known as 'rod kohi' (hill torrent).

The project will help farmers to store water for irrigation besides mitigating floods, providing employment opportunities for youth and bolstering the income of poor segments of society. — APP