PESHAWAR: Work on the 300-megawatt Balakot Hydropower Project in Mansehra district is progressing rapidly and, upon completion, the project is expected to generate around Rs15 billion in annual revenue for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provincial minister for energy and power Nazir Ahmad Abbasi, said in a statement issued here on Sunday.
Speaking at a certificate-distribution ceremony at PEDO House, Mr Abbasi said the project would play a significant role in strengthening the provincial economy and creating employment opportunities.
The ceremony was held at the conclusion of a training programme for staff of the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) under the Community Support and Development Programme of the Balakot project.
PEDO chief executive officer engineer Anwarul Haq, senior director administration and finance Ziaur Rehman and other senior officers and staff attended the ceremony.
The minister said the Balakot project was a flagship initiative of the provincial government and was being implemented with financial support from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
A briefing on the project’s progress said it was expected to be completed within the next six years.
The project is being constructed by Chinese company Gazoba China with Turkish consultancy firm Dolsar providing consultancy services.
Mr Abbasi described the Community Support and Development Programme as an important component of the project and stressed the need for continued capacity-building of PEDO’s field staff, particularly those directly involved in project activities.
He directed that similar training programmes should be organised for staff working on other projects to enhance their professional and technical capabilities.
The minister expressed his determination to ensure completion of the project within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining quality standards.
At the end of the ceremony, Mr Abbasi distributed certificates and mementos among the PEDO staff who had completed the training programme.