PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said completion of ongoing projects in will address power crisis at the national level and generate revenue for the province.

“Completion of ongoing energy projects will prove to be a game changer and help to overcome power crisis in the country,” he said this while chairing 11th meeting of the Policy Board of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) here on Saturday, according to a starment.

The participants of the meeting were briefed on annual performance of Pedo and its efforts for generation of low cost electricity in the province.

“The provincial government is working under a well-devised strategy to take full advantage of hydropower potential in the province,” said the chief minister. He added that a revenue of more than Rs43 billion was generated so far whereas the federal government also owed Pedo more than Rs10 billion.

The meeting was told that seven hydropower projects with a total capacity of 161 megawatts were completed that could generate Rs5 billion annual revenue while seven other schemes were near completion that would generate 224 megawatts electricity collectively besides generating Rs4 billion revenue annually.

The meeting was told that Pedo solarised Civil Secretariat, Chief Minister’s House and Chief Minister’s Secretariat. It was told that 4,440 mosques, 8,000 schools and 187 primary health centres in the province were also shifted to solar energy while 13 solar mini-grid stations were being established to promote trade activities in tribal districts.

Besides completing 316 mini micro-hydel stations to generate around 29 megawatts electricity for providing to local people at cheaper rates, 220 more such stations will be established in the province to generate 45 megawatts electricity.

The statement said that recently 10 megawatts Jabori hydropower project in Mansehra was completed while work was initiated on 300 megawatts Balakot hydropower project. It added that 40 megawatts Koto and 11 megawatts Karora hydropower projects were also near completion.

Other ongoing schemes of Pedo include 84 megawatts Mataltan hydropower project in Swat, 69 megawatts Lavi hydropower project in Chitral, 6.9 megawatts Barando hydropower project in Torghar and 10.5 megawatts Chapri Charkhel hydropower project in Kurram.

The meeting was told that foundation stone of 157 megawatts Madyan and 88 megawatts Gabral Kalam hydropower projects would be laid soon.

Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Energy and Power Secretary Nisar Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Pedo Engineer Naeem Khan and other members of the board attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2022