PESHAWAR: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered technical and financial assistance to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in its bid to exploit hydropower potential of the province.

A high-level ADB mission comprising Korean, Australian, Vietnamese, Philippines and Pakistani investors, was informed during a briefing here on Sunday about the ongoing and upcoming hydropower projects in the province. The ADB mission visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for making a plan of action to invest in power sector.

Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) chief executive officer Akbar Ayub Khan informed the ADB mission led by programme manager Adnan Tareen that the provincial government was engaged in implementation of an energy action plan in order to utilise the hydropower potential of the province, according to a statement.

The mission hailed the implementation of 356 micro hydropower projects plan of the provincial government.

Secretary Energy & Power, Engr Naeem Khan was also present on the occasion.

PEDO head said the micro hydropower projects plan was being developed in areas without electricity. ADB plans to introduce for the first time in Pakistan a result-based landing (RBL) technology to complete these projects on a fast-track basis. Moreover, the bank will also invest in development of high capacity power projects in the province with the cooperation of PEDO.-Bureau Report