Uzair bin Farid

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan urgently needs to shift towards affordable power since the cost of its energy imports has soared to $27 billion. He was speaking during the opening ceremony for the Mangla Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant's Units 5 and 6 renovation project, which was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan, which is already dealing with significant economic difficulties, is unable to absorb the high expenditures associated with energy import bills and must therefore turn to alternate methods of power generation. He regretted that in 75 years, both democratic and military leaders had contributed to the lack of dam construction necessary to fulfil the country's energy demands.

The country's energy import bill would not have grown to $27 billion, he said, adding that strong lobbies and cartels prevented the development of dams and the beginning of solar power projects. He said that dams are essential to reducing the consequences of climate change in the aftermath of recent flash floods in the country.

The help provided by USAID for the renovation of the Mangla Dam's units was described by the prime minister as a wonderful example of cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. He praised the significant gift of $150 million from USAID as well as the 90 million euros in financial assistance from the Development Agency of France and another 65 million euros in promises.

Additionally, he noted, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) made an internal contribution of $178 million (about 20 billion rupees). He expressed his happiness with the US desire to carry out a programme to extend the largest dam in the country, the Tarbela Dam. According to Shehbaz Sharif, trade and investment relations have further cemented the 75-year-old friendship and bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US.

US Ambassador Donald Blome said that the US is assisting WAPDA in increasing the power generation capacity of Tarbela and Gomal Zam dams. In light of climate change, he emphasised the crucial need for dam maintenance and improvements and hoped the green alliance between the two countries would be advantageous for Pakistan's energy and agricultural sectors.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk