Peshawar (Khyber Mail): A high-level meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar on Tuesday to discuss a proposed framework for transmission lines and explore ways to supply affordable electricity to industries using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s locally produced energy. The meeting, co-chaired by Special Assistants to the Chief Minister for Industry and Energy & Power, Abdul Karim Tordher and Tariq Sadozai, brought together officials from various departments, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Hydel Development Organization (PEDO) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC).
During the meeting, KP-EZDMC officials presented proposals for utilizing suitable transmission lines to power economic zones and industrial parks through dedicated energy corridors. They suggested setting up a subsidiary transmission company to meet the specific energy needs of these zones and proposed allocating land at the Katlang site for the establishment of a PEDO grid station. This grid would facilitate the transmission of power from the Swat and Dir corridors.
PEDO officials provided updates on their ongoing projects aimed at supplying affordable electricity to industries. They highlighted several energy projects nearing completion that could contribute to the province’s industrial growth.
Special Assistant Abdul Karim Tordher emphasized that ensuring the availability of cost-effective electricity from the province’s own resources would be a major milestone in boosting industrial development. He stressed that utilizing local energy sources would help mitigate the power-related challenges faced by industries.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant Tariq Sadozai called for regular meetings between the concerned departments to finalize a practical plan and proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expedite the process. He reiterated that providing affordable electricity to industries remains a top priority for the government, with concrete steps being taken for swift implementation.