ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has sought federal government's permission to instal three more gas-powered power projects of 352MW in Karachi , Lahore and Faisalabad at a cost of Rs4 billion to meet the growing power needs.

Official sources said here on Thursday that these units would be run on natural gas. However, high-speed diesel will also be used as back-up fuel. Besides, a complete power plant with eight gas-powered projects of 30MW each and seven gas turbines of 16MW each will be donated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help meet power shortage.

The installation of additional gas turbines of 120MW each in Karachi and Fisalabad and 112MW in Lahore would meet the power needs during low water periods. The major equipment of the project, not available locally, will be imported from aboard.

International donor agencies are expected to offer Rs1.2 billion, out of total of Rs4 billion cost. The sources said that it had been agreed that proportional cost would also be paid by the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) and that any issue regarding cost-sharing would be resolved with the help of the ministry of water and power.

The work on the project is expected to begin during 2004-05 and will be completed by 2005-06. Natural gas will be supplied from the existing network of Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).