PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has called for urgent action to recover the province’s outstanding net hydel power profit (NHP) dues from the federal government, directing officials to formally take up the matter with the Centre.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The directive came during a meeting of the K-P Energy and Power Department chaired by Governor Kundi. Energy Advisor Usman Saifullah Khan, Secretary Energy Muhammad Zubair Khan and other senior officials attended the meeting.
During the session, the Energy Secretary briefed the Governor on the department’s overall performance, ongoing development projects, outstanding financial claims against the federal government, pending net hydel profit payments and key challenges facing the provincial energy sector.
The meeting reviewed the progress and implementation challenges of several major hydropower projects, including the 94-megawatt Gabral-Kalam, 470MW Kurram and 229MW Kadam hydropower projects, along with the Pehur project.
Officials also discussed issues affecting the province’s oil and gas sector, including excise duty on gas, the LPG Policy 2016, allocation of the 10 per cent LPG quota and the proposed supply of 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of natural gas to the industrial sector.
Governor Kundi directed the Energy Department to send a formal letter to the federal government regarding outstanding net hydel profit dues, emphasising the need for effective measures to resolve the long-standing financial issue. He said close coordination with federal authorities would continue to safeguard the province’s legitimate rights and address its energy-related concerns.
The meeting also examined difficulties affecting gas exploration and development projects in Orakzai, Tirah and Miranshah. The Governor said discussions would be held with relevant federal institutions to resolve outstanding issues concerning gas blocks and other energy matters.
Highlighting the importance of indigenous energy resources, Kundi stressed that K-P should fully utilise its available natural resources to accelerate industrial development, strengthen economic activity and generate employment opportunities.
He observed that establishing a strong industrial base in the province would also enable more effective utilisation of facilities and financial allocations secured from the federal government.
The Governor further directed the Energy Advisor to prepare a comprehensive working paper outlining concrete proposals on all departmental matters, ongoing development projects and future energy requirements. The document would provide a coordinated basis for taking up the province’s concerns with the federal government.
The meeting reaffirmed the provincial government’s focus on securing outstanding financial entitlements, accelerating hydropower development, resolving gas supply challenges and expanding the use of indigenous energy resources to support industrial growth and economic development.
