LAHORE, April 28: Governor Khalid Maqbool has says feasibility reports for generating 11,000 megawatt additional electricity in Pakistan in five years have been prepared.

He told a delegation of investors from St Petersburg, Russia, which called on him at the Governor’s House here on Saturday that with the construction of new dams, the production of hydel power would be increased to 5,000MW till 2016.

The delegation, led by Gen Victor Safiyanov, administrator of Kolpino district, is currently visiting Pakistan to review the avenues of investment.

The governor said in view of increasing demand of hydel power, Wapda had decided to expand power transmission network. In the first phase, 19 new grid stations in various parts of the country would be established and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide $282 million for the purpose.

“There are ample opportunities of mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in the field of manufacturing hydro-power equipment, installation of rigs for oil and gas exploration, manufacturing of heavy machinery and we have to head forward with determination for the purpose,” he said.

The governor said St Petersburg was the largest cultural capital of Russia and added Lahore has also the same status. “I hope with the visit of Russian delegation here, the cultural ties between both the historical cities will boost.”

Expressing his views, Gen Safiyanov stressed the need for forming working groups in order to promote education, culture and economic sectors.—APP