ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Ports and Shipping Chaudhary Jaffar Iqbal Wednesday informed the Senate that the first turbine of Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project would start generation by December.

Responding to various supplementary questions during Question Hour, the minister said as per CASA-1000 agreement, Pakistan would import 1300 MW of electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic through Afghanistan.

The project would cost $ 1.2 billion and the financing has been arranged from World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and European Development Bank, he added.

However, he said civil work had not yet started on the project while 104 MW was being imported from Iran.

To another question, Jaffar Iqbal said Kurram Tangi dam project would be implemented in two stages.

He said PC-I of the project (stage-I) was approved by ECNEC on April 22, 2016 at a cost of Rs 21,059.26 million.

He said construction activities were in progress and physical progress was 15.6 per cent.

The first stage of the project was expected to be completed by April 2019, he added.

To a question, the minister said the feasibility study of Thakot Hydropower project was in progress and was expected to be completed by December.

He said a sum of Rs 208.504 million had been spent on the project during 2016-17.

The project would be developed on Indus River in District Shangla and it would generate 4,000 MW electricity.