Pakistan is unlikely to make the desired progress to complete 35 hydro power projects with the objective of minimising the energy crisis in the country as donors have yet to disburse any part of the pledged Rs 13 billion for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2011-12.

Official figures for PSDP released for the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year show that the government was not able to release any funds for 35 hydro projects because bilateral and multilateral donors assistance did not materialise.

An official of the Planning Commission said that the projects cannot proceed because of paucity of funds and consequently their completion dates may be delayed. He said that implementation of these projects is very critical for the power sector in the long run.

Analysis of the data shows that donors - bilaterals and multilaterals - have not disbursed any of the Rs 1.2 billion pledged during the first quarter of current fiscal year for Golan Gol Hydro Power Project.

An amount of Rs 47 million was pledged for Khan-Khawar Hydro Power Project but to-date nothing has been disbursed. Similarly, foreign aid of Rs 700 million was pledged for Allai Khawar Hydro Power Project in Batagram-Besham district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Abu Dhabi Fund but nothing has been disbursed during the first quarter.

It was projected that Rs 372 million would be provided by Abu Dhabi for Dubir Khawar Hydro Power Project, Rs 2 billion by Saudi Arabia for Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, Rs 133 million by Germany for Keyal Khawar Hydro Power Project, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 491 million by France for rehabilitation of Jaban Hydro Electric Power Station, Rs 10 million by ADB, Kuwait, Germany, IDB and Japan for transmission arrangements for Power Dispersal of Ghazi Barotha and Rs 350 million by Japan for up gradation of NPCC (Load Dispatch System) H-8, Islamabad.

An amount of Rs 325 million was pledged by Japan for new 220 KV G/S at Khuzdar/220 KV Dadu huzdar D/C Transmission Line, Rs 325 million was pledged Germany for 220 KV G/S at Ghazi Road Lahore with 220 KV D/C T/L 132 KV Expansion System, Rs 150 million by the World Bank for 220 KV G/S at Kassowal with 132 KV Expansion System, Rs 650 million by the ADB for Power System Transmission Enhancement (19 sub Projects of 500 & 220 KV Sub Stations and T/Lines) (ADB), Rs 350 million by ADB for Power Distribution Enhancement Project (Phase-I) (STG-ELR-DOP Rehabilitation Capacitor Installation & Energy Efficiency Iesco, Rs 350 Power Distribution Enhancement Project (Phase-I) (STG-ELR-DOP Rehabilitation Capacitor Installation & Energy Efficiency FESCO (ADB) but donors have not yet released any funds for these projects during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

SOURCE: BUSINESS RECORDER