MANSEHRA: Members of a committee, constituted by the local government representatives and residents of Balakot tehsil, on Monday demanded free electricity from the newly-completed Suki Kinari hydropower project.

The project is expected to be commissioned in the first week of October.

“We have launched a movement to press the government for provision of free electricity to the people of Balakot. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Sardar Mohammad Yusuf has also discussed the matter with the prime minister, and we expect a positive outcome before the inauguration of the power station in the first week of October,” Fahad Yalmaz, chairmen of Garhi Habibullah village council, told a meeting of the committee held here.

The participants also decided to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before the launch of the 880MW hydropower project, which was recently completed over the Kunhar River in the Kaghan Valley.

On the occasion, Javed Iqbal, president of Balakot traders’ body, said that people had sacrificed their lands for the energy project, but the authorities had yet to materialise the promised relief package, which envisaged construction of schools and health facilities for the affected people.

He said MNA Sardar Yusuf had taken up the issue of provision of free electricity with the prime minister.

Naqash Rafique, a member of the committee, said that four more hydropower projects were planned to be built in the region, which he said would generate employment opportunities for the locals.

“The government should announce free electricity for the people of Balakot before the groundbreaking of the Suki Kinari hydropower station,” he said.

Other members of the committee, including Munsif Hussain, Mian Salahuddin, Sardar Abrar Hussain, Mohammad Riaz, Musaddiq Hussain Shah, Nawaz Shah Advocate and Mian Mohammad Ashraf also participated.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2024