The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will construct five hydel power projects, which will collectively generate 215 megawatt electricity. The projects are included 41MW Koto Hydropower Project (Dir Lower), 11MW Karora Hydropower Project (Shangla), 10 MW Jabori Hydropower Project (Mansehra), 84MW Matalitan Hydropower Project (Swat) and 69MW Lawi Hydropower Project (Chitral) respectively.
The construction of these projects is under different phases. This was disclosed by KP Finance Minister, Muzaffar Said while delivering his budget speech in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday. He said that construction work on 300MW Balakot Hydropower Project in District Mansehra would start during next financial year. This largest hydropower project of the province would be completed with the financial cooperation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in next four years. Besides, these projects, the provincial government is also launching work on three hydropower projects including 47MW Barikot-Pathrak Hydropower Project (Dir Upper), 22MW Pathrak Sheringal Power Project (Dir Upper) and 10MW Gabral-Kalam (District Swat) with the financial cooperation of the World Bank.
The provincial finance minister said that for attracting private sector investors, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has approved investment friendly 'KP Hydropower Policy 2016. Under the project hydel power stations in the province will be constructed on the basis of built-operate own and transfer bases. Under the policy 150MW Sharmai Hydropower Project had been awarded to private sector and the sponsor will have to construct the project on BOOT basis. Similarly, he said that six projects, whose feasibility study has been completed under the Investment Friendly Policy have been advertised for construction through private sector.