LOWER DIR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi, on Saturday, inaugurated the 40.8-megawatt Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir.
Addressing the ceremony, Sohail Afridi said that the provincial government is working on a long-term plan to make hydroelectric resources the basis of economic development. These clean and affordable energy projects will play an important role in employment generation and industrial development.
He added that the hydropower initiative will significantly contribute to local employment and support the revival of industries.
According to details, the project has formally begun supplying electricity to the national grid on a commercial basis.
It is expected that the project will add Rs 2.4 billion in annual revenue.
CM Afridi remarked that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has vast potential for producing low-cost electricity and expressed pride in completing the projects initiated by the previous leadership.
We are committed to taking every initiated project to its logical conclusion, he said.
Afridi also announced the province’s first power transmission line, which will facilitate electricity transmission from 11 hydropower projects. Power generated from local plants will be supplied to industries at discounted rates. He assured full support for the provincial power distribution system, stating that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have the primary right over their natural resources.
The chief minister expressed concern over delays in issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for foreign engineers’ visits, which have caused setbacks to multibillion-rupee projects. He warned that these delays harm not only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the entire country.
Read also: CM KP refuses to meet Balochistan national workshop participants
