Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Senior Minister Sirajul Haq called on Pakistan High Commissioner for the United Kingdom (UK) Wajid Shamsul Hassan on Wednesday and discussed economic conditions and investment opportunities in KP.
Haq, who is on an official visit to the UK, informed Wajid that the KP government was planning to build 20 hydel power projects on various rivers of the province, which would generate 25,000 megawatts of energy.
“The projects can be completed in a time span of 9 months to four years with the help of foreign investors,” he said, adding that the projects would help overcome the energy shortage in the country.
The minister said out of nearly 175 schools destroyed by militants in KP during the last few years, 58 still had to be re-built and funding was required for that purpose.
“The provincial government has allocated Rs 66 billion for education in the current budget but the actual requirement is much more than that,” Siraj said.
Siraj said the mineral sector and olive tree plantation in KP were areas with a large investment and employment potential.
Hassan promised the minister to work with the KP government to attract foreign investment for the above-mentioned sectors.
He aslo assured the minister of all possible help in the power sector and directed the commercial counselor to contact potential investors.
The High Commissioner said he would contact the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to seek assistance for KP’s education sector.
Siraj also held meetings at the DFID and other institutions in the UK.
