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Govt seeks ADB assistance for hydropower projects

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday asked the Asian Development Bank to financially support mega hydropower generation and agriculture related developmental projects. The request was made during a meeting among ADB Vice President, Xiaoyu Zhao, Chairman WAPDA, Secretary Ministry of Food and Agriculture and officials of Ministry of Water and Power.

Chairman WAPDA told the meeting that the country was in dire need of hydropower generation to meet the growing demand. Power generation from other sources is very expensive and stressed the need for relying more on hydropower generation projects. The government has already planned a number of such projects including Diamer Basha Dam, Rohri Hydro Power Project, Kurram Tangi Dam, Neelum Jhelum Hydro electric project, Allai Khawar Hydro Power Project. After completion of these projects the government would be able to overcome power shortfall and it would also help the government to overcome water shortfall particularly for agriculture purposes, he maintained. Pakistan is basically an agrarian economy and provision of water is a pre-requisite for development of agriculture sector. He asked the ADB team to assist the government in completion of mega hydroelectric power projects because Pakistan was currently confronting severe financial constraints

Secretary, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, informed the ADB team to assist the government in improving agriculture infrastructures particularity storage facility, availability of better seeds, processing of agriculture produce and irrigation system of the country. More than 60 percent of country's population was directly or indirectly involved in agriculture sector of the economy and its development would definitely help the government in poverty alleviation.

The ADB Vice President, speaking on the occasion assured the participants that the bank would try its level best to assist the government in various development projects. However, he said that final decision would be taken after proper consultation with in the bank high officials. The ADB Vice told reporters "We can double Pakistan's assistance up to $3 billion per annum provided Islamabad makes a request in this regard as well as the funding available to ADB also increases."

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