CM Afridi opens Kotu Hydropower project, saying KP’s first dedicated transmission line in making

• KP CM vows concessional power for industries, boosting regional development, emphasizes hydropower as a driver for employment and industrial growth
• Says new transmission line to distribute electricity from 11 hydro projects, highlights delays in development due to missing NOCs and Rs3,000b owe to centre

LOWER DIR/PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday inaugurated the 40.8-megawatt Kotu Hydropower Project in Lower Dir, while announcing the province’s first dedicated power transmission line to distribute electricity from 11 hydro projects.

The move underscores his government’s commitment to supplying locally generated power to industries at concessional rates and advancing regional economic development.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials, elected representatives, and local community leaders. CM Afridi received a warm welcome from residents upon his arrival in Chakdara.

Completed at a cost of Rs21.7 billion, the Kotu project is expected to generate 207 million units of electricity annually, forecasting Rs2.4 billion in yearly revenue for the province. Afridi emphasized that the provincial government is pursuing a long-term strategy to leverage hydropower as a cornerstone for employment generation, industrial growth, and regional prosperity.

“This project is not just an energy initiative; it is a step toward regional development, job creation, and economic progress,” Afridi said, confirming that the Kotu project is now supplying electricity commercially. He added that other hydropower projects are being fast-tracked to further enhance energy production and support industrial expansion.

Afridi also highlighted challenges facing provincial development, citing delays due to missing NOCs from May to November and asserting that timely release of Rs3,000 billion owed by the federal government could accelerate growth. He condemned the impact of terrorism on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy and civilian lives, stressing the need to minimize public hardship while pursuing security and development initiatives.