PESHAWAR, Sept 28: The Malakand-III hydropower project is near completion and would be functional by January 2008, according to Shydo sources.

The mega-power project is being completed at a cost of Rs6 billion, he said, adding that 97 per cent of the work has been completed. It will generate 81MW electricity, of which 10 per cent will be used for the local industrial units.

Apart from generating employment opportunities, it will generate an income of Rs15 million annually for the province.

The agriculture sector will benefit from it as well and the problems of loadshedding and low voltage will be addressed to a great extent. It will also give boost to the industries in the area, according to the source.

Shydo sources said Pakistan had the capacity to generate 40,000MW of power and the NWFP alone could produce 25,000MW electricity. Many sites in the province were feasible and almost 4,500 letters of interest have been issued in this regard.—APP