PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said the government is effectively tapping the province’s hydroelectricity (hydel) potential to provide the local industry with cheaper power.

The chief minister stated this during a meeting with a delegation of Chinese businessmen visiting Pakistan during his visit to Rashakai Special Economic Zone, according to a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat on Saturday.

Mr Gandapur said that the provincial government had established its own grid and transmission company for the provision of power at lower rates in order to boost the industrial sector.

The statement said the chief minister discussed with the Chinese delegation matters of mutual interest, especially investment opportunities in KP and prospects to further enhance mutual collaboration in various fields, including industry, agriculture and energy.

Mr Gandapur told the delegation about the huge potential in hydel power and agriculture, and that his government would also welcome foreign investment in these sectors.

“Creating maximum employment opportunities and increasing the province’s revenue by effectively utilising available resources and by boosting potential sectors are the priority areas of the government,” the chief minister said.

He said that the provincial government would facilitate foreign investors under its ease of doing business policy.

Mr Gandapur said the KP government would welcome foreign investment in the grid and transmission sector, and highlighted the importance of exchanging expert delegations between the two countries to explore maximum opportunities for mutual collaboration.

The chief minister assured the Chinese delegation that the provincial government would take good care of the security needs of foreign investors working in the province.

The chief minister visited various industrial units in the special economic zone, where he was briefed by the officials of the industries department about the functioning of the zone.

Special assistant to the chief minister on industries and technical education, Abdul Karim Tordher, chief secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, additional chief secretary Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah and officials of the industries department were also present.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2024