PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday inaugurated 2.6 megawatt Machai hydropower station in district Mardan which has formally started production of electricity.

Secretary energy and power department Engr Naeem Khan inaugurated the station at a ceremony at Alai village, according to a statement. The ceremony was also attended by experts from energy sector and authorities of German and Pakistan companies working in the project.

Addressing the ceremony, Naeem Khan said the hydropower project was started with the assistance of Asian Development Bank at Machai Canal System Mardan as a pilot project to boost investment. He claimed the provincial government’s achievements in energy sector had started.

Soon a 17MW Ranolia hydropower project and 36.6MW Daral Khwar hydel project would also be inaugurated, he said, hoping the above mentioned projects in energy sector would prove a milestone for the development of economy of the province.

He congratulated the contractor, company, consultant, project director and other members of the hydropower project.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2017