LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Autho­rity (Wapda) has increased funds for 22 development schemes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) from Rs2.27 billion to Rs5.23bn.

Wapda had launched the projects in AJK under the Neelum-Jhelum Hyd­ro­power Project for mitigating the environmental impact on downstream areas and socio-economic uplift of the locals.

“A sum of Rs2.27bn, which was initially earmarked, has been increased to Rs5.231bn for 22 development schemes being executed by the AJK government in funding collaboration of Wapda,” Wapda Chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain told AJK Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan here on Saturday.

The AJK PM, who paid a visit to Wapda House, was briefed by the chairman about the development schemes being implemented in AJK as part of Wapda projects.

Paying tribue to the sacrifices of the people and support by the AJK government in completion of projects, especially the Neelum-Jhelum Hy­dro­power Project, the chairman reiterated his resolve for early completion of the AJK projects. He assured the prime minster that environmental concerns and drinking water needs downstream the Neelum-Jhelum Project weir at Nauseri would continue to be addressed in accordance with environmental studies.

The AJK premier congratulated Wapda on completion and commissioning of all four generating units of the strategically important Neelum-Jhelum Hydro­power Project.

He expressed the hope that the project would go a long way in progress and prosperity of Pakistan and AJK alike.

The progress on community development schemes under the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was reviewed in detail during the meeting. It was agreed that all stakeholders would make concerted efforts for completion of the ongoing community development schemes at a fast pace.

The matter relating to tripartite agreement among the federal government, AJK government and Wapda was also discussed in the meeting. The AJK chief secretary and the project’s chief executive officer were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018