Khizar Hayat Abbasi,
Islamabad: Terming Kohala Hydropower Generation Project as an important energy venture of national significance, Sardar Masood Khan, President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has said that the project will not only help overcome the energy crisis in the country but will also generate economic activities in the area.
“Government of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir attach great importance to the early completion of Kohala Hydropower Generation Project and will help resolve all the issues related to the project being executed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” President Masood Khan said while talking to a Chinese delegation that called on him here on Tuesday.
The delegation comprising Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kohala Hydal Power Company, Mr. Zhang Jun and Chief Operating Officer of the company, N A Zubairi gave a presentation to the President on the progress and bottleneck that cause delay in early completion of the project.
The president however, made it clear that the company engaged in the construction of the project must address all the environment related issues and remove the apprehensions of the local community and AJK government.
The President said that the issues related to taxation and land acquisition were being resolved on a priority basis.
The Kohala Project is the largest individual investment under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework and it will create 5000 jobs for the educated and skilled youth of Azad Kashmir. Expressing his profound gratitude to the government of Pakistan and China for including Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the CPEC related projects, Sardar Masood Khan assured that AJK government will provide all possible support to the project.
He said that various projects initiated in different parts of AJK reflect our commitment towards economic progress and enhancing the standard of living of the people. Later a delegation of Harbin Electric Machinery Company Limited also called on President, Sardar Masood Khan and briefed him about the business ventures of the company in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.