Project completion to generate Rs15b annually for the province, create new employment
Peshawar
Working is underway at a rapid pace on 300 MW Balakot Hydropower Project, the province’s largest hydropower project in Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which will prove to be a game-changer in stabilizing the province’s economy and creating new employment opportunities.
Moreover, Balakot Hydropower Project is a flagship project of the provincial government and will be completed with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The completion of the project will generate an annual income of Rs 15 billion for the province.
These views were expressed by Provincial Minister Energy and Power Nazir Ahmad Abbasi while addressing a certificates distribution ceremony held at PEDO House, Peshawar, at concluding of a training program for PEDO staff under the Community Support and Development Program of Balakot Power Project titled “Strengthening Institutional Capacity of PEDO in Development”. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Executive Officer PEDO Engineer Anwarul Haq, Senior Director Admin and Finance Zia ur Rehman, and other senior officers and staff.
At this juncture, while giving a briefing on the progress of the Balakot Hydropower Project under the supervision of PEDO, it was informed that the project will be completed in the next 6 years by a team of Chinese construction company Gazoba China and Turkish consultant company Dolsar, which will usher in a new era of development in the province.
Meanwhile, on this occasion, the Minister Energy & Power Nazir Ahmad Abbasi has termed the project’s Community Support and Development Program as essential component of the project and praising the CEO PEDO and his team, he said that training of the field staff, especially the field team working on the project, is very important.
Minister Abbasi has expressed his determination that the project would be completed within the stipulated time keeping in mind the quality principles. At the end of the ceremony, the Provincial Minister Energy distributed certificates and mementos to the trained field staff of PEDO. He stressed that such training activities should be continued in other projects as well so that the capacity of the field staff can be increased.
