Staff Reporter
Peshawar
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local industrialists for supply of 18 MW of electricity generated through Pehur Hydel Power Plant on wheeling charges.
The electricity generated through Pehur Hydel Power Plant will be directly supplied from power house to industries in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE) by using the transmission system of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) on wheeling charges.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Provincial Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai, Advisor to Chief Minister KP on Energy and Power Himayatullah Khan, KP Chief Secretary Salim Khan and Provincial Energy Development Organization CEO Zahid Akhtar Sabri was present on the occasion.
The MoU was signed between owners of different industries and CEO PEDO, Zahid Akhtar Sabri. Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan, Kwak Sung-Kyu was also present on the occasion to witness the signing ceremony.
The rate per unit for supply of electricity to industries is decided through open auction as Rs. 7.50 against the existing rate of Rs. 20 per unit, said Himayatullah Khan while giving a brief about the agreement.
The advisor to Chief Minister KP said it is win-win situation for both industries and KP government because the electricity generated through power houses are supplied to the national grid at the rate of Rs. 4 per unit and now the government will make an additional earning of Rs. 2.00 per unit.
The saving for industries will be Rs. 13.5 per unit while the electricity supplying company PESCO will also make an earning of Rs. 1.50 per unit for using of its transmission system.
This decision will change the status of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which is considered as ‘locationally disadvantaged’ because of its farness from sea port and now industrialists from other provinces will also concentrate on establishment of industries here, he remarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister KP said the decision will promote industrialization in the province badly hit by decade long wave of terrorism.
The government is also trying to complete Chasma Lift Canal project in its tenure and supply 40 MW of electricity under same condition for promotion of agriculture in Southern region of the province, he added.
The focus of PTI government is on promotion of commerce and trade in the region for creation of employment and prosperity in the country, Mahmood Khan added. He said public sector cannot fulfill the employment needs of the country and for this purpose private sector involvement is must.
He said round the clock opening of Trokhem border is also a step in this direction and within few days it has shown an increase of 58 percent in export of the country to Afghanistan.
The government is also concentrating on establishment of Marble City in Mohmand Agency and promotion of industrialization with the cooperation of private sector.
Mahmood Khan also thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for cooperation and support in implementation of the initiative of providing electricity to industry on wheeling charges. He said the project of Pehur Hydel Power was completed around six years ago but due to non-cooperation of previous federal government its implementation was delayed.
The chief minister also stressed upon elements who raise objections that no development is taking place in KP to come and see how progress based decisions are being taken and its impact on economy and people of the province.
During the last one and a half year, merger of FATA into KP was a very big development of the KP government, he continued.
Earlier President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engr Maqsood Ahmad highly commended the decision and said it was the long lasting demand of industrialists of KP.
This development is the first drop of benefits of 18th amendment allowing provinces to sale its electricity on industries, President SCCI added.
He also demanded provision of electricity supply on same basis from Malakand III project which is generating around 81 MW power.
Secretary Energy and Power, Muhammad Zubair Khan said wheeling of electricity is a first step towards provision of inexpensive electricity to industries through renewable resources.
