ISLAMABAD, June 29: The federal government has agreed to provide Rs302 million to Sindh for supplying electricity to 906 remote villages in 2006-7. Sources told Dawn that this would be one of the biggest rural electrification programmes in Sindh, for which the Water and Power development Authority and the Alternate Energy Development Board were finalising a plan. Under the plan, 7,874 villages that are at least 20km away from the national grid in Sindh and Balochistan will get electricity supply.

However, the sources said, preference would be given on the Sindh government’s request to first electrify the 906 ‘highly deserving villages’.

The Sindh government has approached the Planning Commission to start technical evaluation and management of the rural electrification programme in the province.

The objectives of the programme are to provide electricity and clean drinking water to the villages identified by the Sindh government.

The villages along the coast and in some other areas will be on priority.