PM Imran wants water projects' completion at fast pace: Farrukh
Last updated on: 12 August,2021 12:44 pm
"It would create more than 35,000 job opportunities in the country."
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said on Thursday that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was taking keen interest in water reservoirs’ projects to ensure their completion on fast track.
In a series of tweets, he said work on several water projects including Diamer Bhasha Dam, Dasu hydropower, Mohmand Dam, Sindh Barrage, Huripur power project, Kachhi Canal, K-IV water supply, Kurram Tangi and Nai Gaj dams was in full swing.
The minister said completion of those ten projects would not only ensure water reserves of 12.89 million acre feet, but also increase generation of inexpensive hydropower in the country by 9,043 mega watt (MW).
It would also create more than 35,000 job opportunities in the country, he added.
Farrukh said that Tarbela 5th Extention Hydropower project would be completed by 2024 with a cost of $807 million.
He said the project would enhance power generation capacity of Tarbela dam to 6,418MW from current 4,888MW with an addition of 1,530MW.
It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Thursday performed the groundbreaking of US $ 807 million Tarbela 5th Extention Hydropower Project (T-5), under the government’s ‘Decade of Dams 2018-28’ vision.
The World Bank (WB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are providing US $ 390 million and US $ 300 million, respectively, for the Project to be completed by 2024.
The Prime Minister on the occasion was given a detailed briefing on the project by Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt. Gen. (R) Muzamil Hussain.
During the briefing, it was informed that the T-5 Hydropower Project will enhance the life of Tarbela Dam by addressing the issue of sedimentation and ensuring sustainable irrigation releases.
The Prime Minister was told that the project will generate another 1530 MW of low cost and environmental friendly electricity. With completion of T-5, installed capacity of Tarbela Dam will increase from 4888 MW to 6418 MW.
The Prime Minister was informed that T-5 will provide 1.347 billion units of low-cost and green energy to the National Grid on the average every year. The Project will also generate around 3000 employment opportunities during the construction phase, it was told.
The Prime Minister also planted a sapling of pine tree to mark the event.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Federal Ministers Umar Ayub Khan, Ch. Moonis Ilahi, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib. Governor Kbyber Pakhtunkhwa Shah Farman and Chief Minister Mehmood Khan were also present on the occasion.