The French Ambassador to Pakistan, Philippe Thiebaud, on Thursday, visited WAPDA House and attended a briefing bout various projects being implemented by WAPDA in water and hydropower sectors. He was also accompanied by the French Development Agency (AFD) Country Director Nicolas Fomage and Project Manager Nauman Bhutta.
Thiebaud said that his country was keen to support Pakistan in projects of water development, irrigation and electricity generation. He said that the process to provide funds for Munda Dam project was being speeded up and would be completed as early as possible. AFD was also working in close coordination with their German counterpart for financial assistance to construct Harpo and Basho hydropower projects, he added. Referring to the Munda Dam multipurpose project in FATA, WAPDA Chairman said that the project, approved by the planning commission last week, would help control floods, ensure availability of water for irrigated agriculture and provide 740 MW of low cost hydel electricity. Munda Dam, being a multipurpose project, had excellent rate of returns, he added.
Currently, AFD is providing 25 million euros for the rehabilitation and upgrade of Jabban hydropower project in Malakand. In addition, AFD has also shown a keen interest to provide funds for Munda Dam multipurpose project in Mohmand Agency, and Harpo and Basho hydropower projects in Gilgit Baltistan. It is pertinent to mention that the case for financial assistance to Munda Dam project is being forwarded to AFD Board of Directors for formal approval.
What wishful thinking!! France which is having a hard time keeping it financial system afloat and its going to fund civil projects!! What a laughable suggestion? Any funding they provide for malakand province has a purpose (namely encourage descent in the north and reinforcing that Pakistan does not care about them). Pakistan should reinforce its currency and economics instead so that it can build these dams.
Pakistan need friends like France.
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