CHITRAL: A mini-hydropower station has been inaugurated in the remote border village of Arandu in Chitral, which will electrify 400 households.

Sector Commander North of Frontier Corps, Brig Ziaul Islam opened the project at a ceremony the other day largely attended by the jubilant villagers.

The power project executed by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) with the financial assistance of Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund has a generation capacity of 200KW.

The AKRSP regional programme manager, Sardar Ayub said the total cost of the project stood at Rs17.270 million which was completed in two years. He said the power station’s operation was handed over to the local community.

Mr Ayub said the AKRSP had completed 40 projects of community infrastructures which included link roads, water supply schemes and irrigation channels.

Brig Ziaul Islam expressed his pleasure over the active participation of community in completion of the project and said the electricity would improve their living standards and also create job opportunities for them by promoting cottage industry.

He appreciated the role of local community for maintaining peace and tranquility in the area which was necessary for carrying out development activities and assured them that Pak Army would continue to solve the issues facing them.

Later, he distributed relief items among the poor residents affected by the earthquake.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2015