Three power projects approved

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Environment and Forests, Wajid Ali Khan has said  three mega power projects, including one in Chitral, have been approved. The minister said Sarhad Hydel Development Organisation (SHYDO) had recently approved 36.6 Megawatt power project at Daral Khwar that would soon be launched in Swat district. He said government had also approved 153 megawatt power projects in Mataltan (Swat) and Lavi (Chitral) that would be launched shortly. He said Hydel Project at Mataltan had generating power capacity of 84-megawatt and has great potential to address problems of low voltage and load shedding in Swat. Wajid Khans said the government was giving top priority to energy sector after 18th amendment as it has directly linked to the prosperity and uplift of province and people. He said government would utilise all available resources to generate 2,000 megawatts electricity to help end power crisis and earn profit for the province. “The policy of our government regarding ending power crisis is very clear and time was not far away when KP will get self-sufficiency in energy sector,” he told APP. He said the hydel-generation profits would be spent on launching electricity projects in the province. For revival of Carpet industry in Swat district, the Minister said that a comprehensive plan for its rehabilitation was in final stages and would be launched after taking all stakeholders on board. Wajid Khan said carpet industry is generating employment in Swati people and the carpet shops on roads of Mingora and outskirts are producing quality products liked in Middle East and Europe. The Minister said Swat would be linked with Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway. In first phase, motorway would be constructed up to Chakdara and later would be extended up to Madain Swat. He said government was giving top priority to communication sector and the construction of an alternative expressway from Motorway to Mingora and a dual road from Chakdara to Madyan Swat would make the area into hub of economic investment. Under Malakand Development Programme, he said mobile generators have been provided to concerned authorities to ensure supply of clean drinking water to the communities of Swat. These generators are being utilizing in the high priorities areas of Swat. To restore the electricity system and provide clean drinking water to the local communities, the government has installed 25 electrical transformers and fifteen hand pumps at different areas of Malakand Agency and Swat district. He said Swat would be made a model district in Khyber Pakthunkhwa keeping in views sacrifices of its people and dynamic role in process of national development.]]>