Government shares AJK's 500 megawatts power generation projects

Mirpur: Azad Kashmir government has identified hydel power projects for generation of 500 megawatts. These projects will be completed in phases in collaboration with private partners and foreign donors, official sources said.

'The energy projects will make AJK self-sufficient enabling to fulfil demands of domestic, commercial and industrial consumers,' the sources informed APP.

The government of Pakistan has released funds for executing the projects under the public sector development programme.

In the first phase, the government has allocated Rs 16400m for 13 hydel power generation projects designed to create 82.52 megawatts of electricity. Rs 4000m allocated in the current financial year, include the domestic development funds of Rs 1800m. The Canadian government as soft loan has given Rs 2200m, sources added.

The government of Pakistan has approved of Rs 760m for the Battar and Rs 297m for Dhannan Hydel power production station. The government of Pakistan will contribute 75percent of the project funds while AJK government will share rest of the amount. Four mega hydel power stations worth US $719m are being launched in the private sector in Mirpur division. Work on these projects is expected to start in June next year.