MANSEHRA: The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) has planned to hire over two dozen employees for the Balakot hydropower project and formally sought applications for their posts.

The positions totalling 32 are of assistant directors, engineers, sub-engineers both electrical and civil, patwaris and computer operators and will be filled after written tests of the candidates.

The 300 megawatts power project is being executed on the Kunhar River in Balakot tehsil of Mansehra district with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan is understood to be visiting the area early next month to perform the project’s groundbreaking. His earlier two visits were postponed for one reason or another.

CM likely to perform groundbreaking next month

The relevant officials said the district administration has acquired over 8,000 Kanals of land in Bala Schain, Paras, Ghanool and Sangar patwar circles for the project for which the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has already approved $750 million funding.

They said bidding and the contractors’ selection had already been completed, while a consortium of companies had also been finalised for the initiative.

HOUSES GUTTED: A fire gutted three houses in Soach area of Kaghan valley here late on Thursday.

The fire, whose cause was not known, spread fast destroying household goods and currency notes.

However, no damage to public life was reported as the families were evacuated by neighbours shortly after the fire broke out.

INJURED: A woman and four children were injured after the outer wall of their Pathan Colony house here fell on them on Thursday due to a car crash.

The neighbours shifted them to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, where the doctors declared their condition to be out of danger.

Meanwhile, the district administration and Saibaan Development Organisation distributed cash and gifts to orphans living in the Dhodial SOS Village here on Eid day.

Deputy commissioner Adnan Khan Behttani and Saibaan Development Organisation chief executive officer Sahibzada Jawad Alfaizi visited the place and spent time with children.

Mr Behttani also gave away a cheque to the SOS village’s administration to meet needs of children.

Published in Dawn,May 7th, 2022