ADB offers KP govt technical and financial assistance in power sector

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered technical and financial assistance to government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to invest in the power sector.

The current provincial government’s plan to implement 356 micro hydel projects has been hailed across the country and for the first time in Pakistan Result Based Landing (RBL) technology would be introduced in order to complete these projects on fast track basis.

The ADB high level mission visited KP to formulate a plan of action to invest in power sector of the province. The foreign mission comprised Korean, Australian, Vietnamese, Philippines and Pakistani investors led by programme manager Adnan Tareen who visited Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO). Energy and Power Secretary Engr Naeem Khan was also present on the occasion.

PEDO Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar Ayub Khan briefed the ADB’s mission about the ongoing and upcoming planned hydel projects in KP and said that the provincial government is engaged in implementing of the energy plan in order to utilise maximum power potential which exists in the province. He said that 356 micro hydropower projects are being developed in areas where people are deprived of electricity.

The ADB mission applauded the PEDO/KP’s government plan for micro hydel power projects and announced the plan to introduce RBL technology in order to complete these projects within shortest possible time. The bank will also invest in the development of high capacity power projects in the province with the cooperation of PEDO.

Foreign investors’ mission hailed the efforts of PEDO’s CEO Akbar Ayub Khan and said that they planned to invest in the power sector in order to pull the country out of the dire energy crisis. The ADB mission will re-visit soon and finalise the plan of action with PEDO for implementation of hydropower projects in KP.