The meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Committee Chairman and Member Provincial Assembly, Dawood Shah.
Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibad, MPAs Rishad Khan, Naeem Khan, Arbab Zarak Khan, Farah Khan, Mehar Sultana, Tariq Saeed, and Rehana Ismail attended the meeting. On this occasion, Secretary Energy Zubair Khan, CEO PEDO Habibullah Shah, representatives of PESCO, SNGPL, the Law Department, and officials of the Provincial Assembly were also present.
The committee held detailed discussions on the implementation of the agreement with the local community regarding the Karora Hydropower Project in Shangla, Mini micro hydropower projects in Upper Dir, solarisation of mosques and worship places, electricity and gas load-shedding, overbilling, and low-voltage issues.
Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibad presented the reservations of the local community before the committee concerning employment, water supply schemes, and other matters agreed upon in the Karora Hydropower Project.
In response, the CEO of PEDO informed the committee that 25 small hydropower projects have been completed in Shangla, while the Karora project has been completed and connected to the national grid, which will generate an annual income of around Rs. 720 million. He stated that the agreement with the locals had been fully implemented; however, land acquisition, security, and other technical issues caused delays in completion. Chairman Dawood Shah also suggested a site visit to the Karora Project.
The CEO of PEDO further informed that the provincial government is taking practical steps for the establishment of “KEPRA” on the pattern of NEPRA. He added that water supply schemes worth Rs. 114 million are under construction in the Karora project area of Shangla, ensuring a clean water supply to every household, while solar systems have also been installed there.
Secretary of Energy Zubair Khan informed the committee that the provincial government has established its own Transmission and Grid Company, and a 40-kilometre transmission line from Matiltan to Bahrain is being laid, which will be extended to Chakdara in Phase II, turning the area into an industrial hub in the future.
Project Director Solarisation Asfandyar Khan briefed the committee that 7 solar mini-grids have been completed so far in the province, and the solarisation of mosques and worship places is progressing rapidly.
The meeting also discussed in detail the electricity and gas load-shedding problems in Kohat and other districts. The Chairman of the committee directed PESCO and Sui Gas officials to take practical measures to improve voltage and reduce load-shedding.
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He further emphasised that, to make the province self-sufficient, clauses for the transfer of technology should be included in agreements with foreign companies for hydropower projects, large hydropower schemes should be prioritised, and the expertise of local professionals should be utilised to the maximum so that ongoing hydropower projects can be completed on time.
