The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government inaugurated the 40.8-megawatt Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir on Saturday, marking a major step toward expanding the province’s clean-energy capacity.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the project will ease growing power needs and strengthen KP’s transmission network. He added that the province’s first dedicated power transmission line is being installed to carry electricity from 11 hydropower plants.
Afridi told reporters that KP will fully support its emerging power distribution system. However, he noted that foreign engineers are not receiving NOCs needed for site visits, causing billion-rupee hydropower schemes to face delays. He urged federal authorities to resolve the issue quickly, stressing that these projects are vital for economic progress.
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He emphasised that KP’s natural resources belong first to its people. He said electricity generated from local power plants, including the new Koto facility, will be supplied to industries at concessional rates. He added that hydropower will serve as a foundation for long-term economic growth and job creation.
Afridi said the federal government still owes KP Rs3 trillion, calling the pending amount a major financial setback for both the province and the country. He said the release of funds is crucial for completing major development and energy projects.
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He concluded that the Koto Hydropower Project reflects a vision focused solely on public benefit. He added that such initiatives were launched without concern for which government would eventually inaugurate them.