PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussein said at a cost Rs.350 billion would spend by provincial government to construct of 24 small dams to produce 2100 megawatt electricity.
He expressed these views while addressing the inauguration ceremony of an in-house television channel, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad on Tuesday. Secretary Information and Culture Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Regional Director Information Islamabad, Behramand and others were also present on the occasion.
Mr. Behramand briefed the minister about the covering area of in-house television channel.Speaking on the occasion,the Provincial Minister said that the in the channel settled by the Information Department Islamabad of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would serve as a launching pad for the projection of provincial government’s activities.
The range of coverage will later on be extended to Peshawar and the rest of the country. He said that access to electronic media is necessary to counter terrorism and bring proper orders. Adding that this is what we have learned from time.The provincial minister said that with the flow of information through electronic media the world has become as global village and no one can leave in isolation rather inter dependency has become visible.
He spelt out the objectives behind the in house television channel idea adding that it will narrow down the existing gap of communication.He said that there is a growing need that all the provinces should have their own television channel that would re enforce the unit of the country.
Mian Iftikhar said that the entire political forces are united for the provincial rights and this is a firm resolve expressed by all political forces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the All Parties Conference the other day.The political forces pledged to be united for the provincial rights and would go to any extent for this purpose. He also referred to the net hydle power profit, adding that it is our right and we would not give up it.He announced to struggle to de-cape the net hydel power profit. He warned WAPDA to meant its direction and pay off the dues against it.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Ms. S K Hydro and MS Hydro for Sooki Kinari Hydro Power Project and Patrand Hydro Power Project which would produce 840 megawatt and 147 megawatt electricity respectively while the Chief Minister will soon take along all political leadership to inaugurate Lavi and Matiltan power projects.
The provincial government has made up its mind to establish industrial states near these power projects where cheap electricity would be provided to the industrial units and hoped that it will be come a boom for investment in the province. He said that there are some other power related projects where the local people would be given training in training centres.
He regretted the delay in the construction of Chashma Left Bank Canal adding that his government has taken the political leadership of the province on board to negotiate soft loans from the World Bank.He expressed the hope that this project will become a mainstay for the overall economy of the country. It is a revolutionary project that will lead to food autarky of the entire country.To a question, the Minister said that his government would always back President Asif Ali Zardari and would continue to back him in future as well. – Brecorder
