Elders assure hassle-free execution of Dasu power project

ABBOTTABAD: The elders from Kohistan on Tuesday pledged to support the uninterrupted execution of the transmission line laying process for the 132 kv Dasu Hydropower Project.

The support was pledged at a grand jirga, organised by the Muttahida Kohistan Committee and chaired by Hazara Division commissioner.Local elders, MNA and MPAs from Kohistan, deputy commissioners from Lower Kohistan, Kolai Palas, and Upper Kohistan, as well as the general manager of the Dasu Hydropower Project and his team attended the jirga. Commissioner Hazara Syed Fayyaz Ali Shah highlighted the progress on Local Area Development Programme (LADP) schemes outlined in the December 12, 2022 agreement, revealing that 50percent of allocated funds had already been disbursed by Wapda to district accounts.

He stressed that delays to the transmission line would jeopardise the Dasu Dam’s timeline, harming national development and Pakistan’s international standing. Noting that stalled work had recently resumed, he urged the stakeholders to avoid further disruptions. MNA, MPAs, and jirga members unanimously pledged support for uninterrupted project execution. As a confidence-building measure, the commissioner directed Wapda to expedite work on approved LADP’s initiatives. He also instituted a structured review mechanism. The deputy commissioners will hold bi-weekly progress meetings, while monthly reviews chaired by the Commissioner will involve all district representatives.

To ensure transparency, the deputy commissioners were instructed to publicly display project updates outside their offices. The jirga concluded with prayers for the project’s success, as elders reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation and conflict resolution. The commissioner thanked attendees, underscoring the collective goal of timely, obstacle-free completion of the transmission line and associated development schemes.