ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) will spend a sum of Rs6.5 billion on hundreds of projects as part of its five-year development plan , including construction of new grid stations and replacement of transmission lines.

Chief Executive Iesco Syed Adeebul Hassan told this news agency on Saturday that the projects would start from the current year and would be completed in phases, keeping in view the requirements as standard of priorities of various areas.

New grid stations would be completed in Chakri, Kalar Syedan, Gangal, Chandni Chowk, Jhelum, etc., he said.

A number of grid stations having a capacity of 33KV or 66KV would be upgraded to 132KV in various parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum and some parts of Bagh, Plandri, Hajeera and Munasah in the AJK.

To a question about upgradation of the single phase system to three phase at sector G-6 and G-7, the Iesco chief said about Rs100 million would be spent on upgradation and renovation plans this year.

All the old supply lines would be replaced by new ones having better transmission facility, which would improve voltage in these sectors.

About 2,000 transformers will be installed in various areas, including the AJK, at an estimated cost of Rs470 million.

He said there was no plan to set up new customer service centres, however the existing ones would be improved, especially in rural areas.

The company's jurisdiction includes districts of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum major parts of Azad Kashmir. Iesco carries out electricity distribution and maintenance of transmission lines as a distributary company of Wapda.

In reply to another question about loadshedding during the current season, he said Wapda had assured the company of sufficient power supply.

The company has enough electricity supply to meet required demands during the season, he said.

He said Iesco had planned to achieve a target of Rs24 billion this year as compared to Rs22 billion last year.-APP