Asad Qaiser says 3 power projects to generate 56MW electricity

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtun-khwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Tuesday said 56 megawatt of electricity would be generated after completion of three power projects in the province this year.

Addressing a two-day policy dialogue “Energy policy dialogue in the context of China Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC), he said the provincial government was utilising all available resources to generate electricity under its energy policy.

He said five new power projects would be completed by 2018 that would generate a total of 214 megawatt electricity besides executing 356 micro hydel power schemes of 35 megawatt in 2017.

The KP Assembly speaker said about 5000 households are being provided solar power in Chitral and 100 villages in southern districts would also be provided solar energy.

Asad Qaiser said the provincial government would continue its struggle for achieving due share in the CPEC and it would not disappoint the people of the province.

No doubt, he said, the CPEC is a game-changer project and the provincial government was not doing point scoring to make the project controversial despite some reservations as the federal government did not take Chief Minister Pervez Khattak into confidence over the project.

However, he said the provincial government was waiting for implementation of the commitment on upgrading the Indus Highway to Express Highway and laying railways track between Peshawar, Charsadda and Swabi.

The US-Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy, (USPCAS-E) University of Engineering and Technology, (UET) Peshawar, had organised the programme here.

The programmed was aimed at deliberating on challenges and opportunities in CPEC for alternative
energy solutions, preparation of industries for energy
efficient solutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offered
by CPEC, and explore possible public-private partnerships.

The government of Khyber Pahkhtukhwa was represented by the secretary Higher Education Muhammad Saleem Khan, secretary Industries Farah Hamid, secretary Energy Engr Qazi Muhammad Naeem and CEO Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil & Gas Company (KPOGCL) Ltd. Engr. Razi-ud-Din.

Vice chancellor UET Peshawar, Dr Iftikhar Hussain, lauded the efforts of USPCAS-E UET Peshawar and said the support from USAID to hold dialogues in the field of energy will enhance students’ capabilities and put them in the leadership roles in the energy sector.