TIMES REPORT
PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Energy and Power Nazir Ahmad Abbasi has said the 300MW Balakot Hydropower Project will prove a game-changer for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy and create new employment opportunities.
He said the flagship project, being developed in Mansehra with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), would generate around Rs15 billion annually for the province upon completion.
Abbasi expressed these views while addressing a certificate distribution ceremony at PEDO House, Peshawar, held at the conclusion of a training programme for PEDO staff under the Balakot Power Project’s Community Support and Development Programme.
PEDO CEO Engineer Anwarul Haq, Senior Director Admin and Finance Zia ur Rehman and other senior officials attended the ceremony.
A briefing on the project’s progress revealed that the project is expected to be completed within six years by Chinese construction company Gazoba China and Turkish consultant Dolsar.
The minister termed the Community Support and Development Programme an important component of the project and stressed the need for continuous training of PEDO field staff, particularly teams directly working on the project.
Abbasi said the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards. He also directed that similar training programmes be arranged for staff working on other projects to enhance their professional capacity.
At the end of the ceremony, the minister distributed certificates and mementos among the trained PEDO field staff.
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