Cheap electricity for industries to boost economic stability; 800MW to be added in four years
The ministry said work on power plants and transmission lines is under way at good speed. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Transmission and Grid Station Company to ensure the timely and quality completion of the provincial government’s ongoing transmission line project.
He said electricity generated from provincial projects would be supplied to industries at affordable rates, promoting industrial growth, economic stability and job creation.
Chairing a review meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Transmission Line and Distribution Company, the chief minister also instructed that the feasibility of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Power Distribution Company be completed within six months and the draft Regulatory Authority Act be finalized.
The meeting reviewed progress on power transmission lines and hydropower projects. Officials informed that completion of ongoing hydropower schemes over the next four years would add 800 megawatts to the system. A 120-kilometre transmission line from Mitaltan Powerhouse to Chakdara Grid is under construction, with work underway on the 40-kilometre Lot-I.
Briefing further, officials said the 36MW Daral Khwar hydropower project is completed and operational, while seven projects with a combined capacity of 224MW are active. Work on the 84MW Gorkan Mitaltan project is 87 percent complete and expected by December 2026, while the 95MW Gabral Kalam and 215MW Madain hydropower projects are scheduled for completion in 2027.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said these projects involve public tax money and negligence or complacency would not be tolerated. “We are not thinking about the next election, but about the next generation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Afridi paid a surprise late-night visit to the Zamung Kor Model Institute for orphaned and destitute children, where he met residents and the administration separately, listened to students’ concerns, and issued on-the-spot directives for their immediate resolution.
The chief minister ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in classrooms and the prompt recruitment of required teachers, stressing that students are the nation’s future and negligence in meeting their needs will not be tolerated. On students’ request, he directed complete fee waivers for Zamung Kor students enrolled in government colleges, while the provincial government will bear full fees for those studying in private colleges. He also approved a special quota for Zamung Kor students in ETEA merit scholarships.
Afridi announced priority access to all educational opportunities for orphaned and destitute children to prevent feelings of deprivation and enable them to lead dignified lives. He decided to establish a dedicated complaint cell to allow students to directly convey grievances to the chief minister. Expressing dissatisfaction with the institute’s accounts and stipend disbursement systems, he ordered their immediate digitization and approved transport services for students attending colleges and sports academies.
The chief minister also ordered inquiries into complaints regarding the expulsion of 11 children and the distribution of hygiene kits. During inspections of various sections, he reviewed food quality and directed the provision of nutritious meals, terming the care of orphaned children a constitutional and moral responsibility. He said Zamung Kor institutes were established under Imran Khan’s Ehsaas vision and would be run in their true spirit under his personal supervision.
Afridi also visited the Zamung Kor Girls Campus in Hayatabad to review compliance with previous directives. Later, at his invitation, resident girls visited the Chief Minister’s House, toured the premises, interacted with him, and attended a special luncheon where gifts were distributed. Addressing the girls, the chief minister said the children are the true owners of Zamung Kor and assured them of continued support until they complete their education.
