Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday (December 5) inaugurated a USD 150 million Mangla Hydro Power Station refurbishment project – which is being funded by the United States (US), news sources reported.
The project is aimed at increasing the electricity generation capacity of units five and six of the Mangla dam to shore up the power needs in the country. The project, once completed, will add 300 megawatts of electricity to the natural grid, which will power a total of 100,000 houses in the country. The project will be completed by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and a private entity, while the funds will be provided by the US government under the renewable energy initiative. As per the sources, the project is aimed at increased production of cheaper electricity for households and reducing dependence on costly fossil fuels and fire-powered electricity generation projects.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, PM Shehbaz said that the US and Pakistan are strategic partners, and the development of projects in Pakistan is the first step toward the development of a more meaningful relationship between the two countries.
It is important to note that Mangal is the largest earth-filled dam in the country and one of the largest in the world. The dam is strategically important since it produces energy as well as stores water for the annual crop production and water storage of the country.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
