Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) launched free-of-cost air-conditioned transport service for affectees of Dasu Hydropower Project in Kohistan District of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

The service has been provided to the local populace as part of WAPDA’s corporate social responsibility, as directed by WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (R) during his visit to the project on February 20.

WAPDA General Manager/ Project Director Javed Akhtar and Kohistan Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Asif along with the local notables inaugurated the transport service.

A 17-seater air-conditioned van has started plying on a 15-kilometer long route on Karakoram High Way (KKH) from Dasu bridge to Kaigah bridge and back thrice a day from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., facilitating students and other people of the area.

It is worth mentioning here that WAPDA, in addition to compensating the affectees of Dasu Hydropower Project for their land and assets, has also allocated huge amount comprising billions of rupees for uplift schemes in the project area including communication infrastructure, livelihood support, area development and improvement in education, electric power and public health sectors etc.

The 4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project is being implemented by WAPDA in two stages of 2160 MW each on River Indus, upstream of Dasu Town in Kohistan District. The project is of immense importance not only for the country but also for Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province, as this project will strengthen the national economy by supplying low-cost hydel electricity to the grid besides adding a new chapter of socio-economic development in the remote and backward areas of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.