Urges federal govt to tap province’s hydel potential

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday urged the federal government to construct dams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to overcome energy crisis.

Speaking at a public meeting in Azakhel Bala here, he said that the province had the potential to produce thousands of megawatt hydel power.

Provincial Minister for Excise and Taxation Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, District Nazim Liaqat Khattak, Member National Assembly Imran Khattak and others were also present.

Pervez Khattak wondered that why the federal government was focusing on coal power projects when the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has ample potential of producing cheap hydel power.

He said that construction of dams would also help
the province store water
and use it for irrigating thousands of barren land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and protect the province from future floods.

He asked the federal government to release funds and launch development work on Chashma Right Bank and Lift Bank Canal, Munda dam, Pehur High Level Canal, Chitral dam, Diamer-Bhasha Dam and other projects.

He said the government would establish a large industrial zone on Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. He said the project would create thousands of new job opportunities.

He said thousands of young people would be accommodated in the project.

Apart from this, Pervez Khattak said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was setting up new industrial zones to create new job opportunities for youth.

On the occasion, Malik Omar Hayat Khan, Malik Sikandar Khan along with their family members, friends, well-wishers and supporters joined the PTI.