March, 17 2005	Thursday	06 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 16: The federal government has finalized an extensive rural electrification programme and the expansion of distribution network at a cost of Rs35.4 billion. Official sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that 5,550 new villages will be provided electricity and 1.8 million fresh electricity connections will be offered to prospective customers by 2006-07. The rural electrification programme has been termed a prime mover for rural development as electricity is not only a pre-requisite for industrialization but also contributes significantly to increasing agricultural productivity, improving the quality of life in rural areas and controlling migration from rural to urban areas.

According to an official paper, Rs6.9 billion will be spent for rural electrification. The Fisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) will provide electricity in Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bhakhar, Sargodha, Khushab and Mianwali districts.

Fesco’s rural electrification programme is expected to earn an income of Rs590.52 million annually through additional sale of 148 Gwh of energy. The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) will cover the entire rural areas of the NWFP and Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) for village electrification. Pesco will undertake the job which eventually will help it earn an income of Rs2.6 billion annually through an additional sale of 665 Gwh of energy.

Similarly, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) will provide electricity to Lahore, Sheikupura, Okara and Kasur districts of Punjab. This programme is expected to generate an income of Rs714.67 million annually by selling 174 Gwh of energy.

Under the Distribution of Power (Distribution Expansion) programme, Rs28.4 billion will be spent. The Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) will undertake the expansion of distribution network to provide 52,7504 new electricity connections to prospective customers.

In this behalf, Fesco has been entrusted the job of extending 3,64,763 new electricity connections in Fisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Khushab and Mianwali districts at a cost of Rs4.7 billion. It is expected that this programme will earn the utility an income of Rs619 million per annum.

Likewise, Pesco will spend Rs6.3 billion to have distribution expansion programme by extending 3,68,600 new electricity connections to new customers in the NWFP, including Fata. The Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESC) will offer 88,691 new electricity connections to prospective customers by 2006-07 at a cost of Rs1.8 billion in Balochistan except district Bela and Uthal of Kalat division.

Under the programme, Lesco will spend Rs6.3 billion to provide 4,86,438 new power connections in Lahore, Sheikupura, Okara, and Kasur districts. Once completed, the programme will help generate Rs1 billion annually.