Saturday, August 20, 2011

Diamer Bhasha dam , US to help complete


US has provided support to complete the final stages of two hydel power projects in Pakistan: namely Satpara dam in Gilgit-Baltistan and Gomal Zam in South Waziristan Agency FATA, the State Department has told this.
“US is considering doing more in the sector,” said the spokesperson Victoria Nuland, as media reports suggested that the they would also support  $12 billion Diamer Bhasha dam project which is a very big and important project for energy deficient Pakistan.
She noted that Pakistan had requested international community’s support for development of the Diamer-Bhasha project and US would most probably help.
“We recognise that such a hydroelectric project would help meet many of Pakistan’s long-term energy and water needs for irrigation , as well as advance social and economic development,” she said.
“We are considering how we can best support Pakistan’s request, as are other bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions.”
The US, she said, had not yet made a final decision on this big project but noted that providing support to such projects was part of a broader signature energy programme in Pakistan that the US announced in 2009.
“We continue to work with the GoP to determine how best to use US civilian assistance,” Ms Nuland further added.
If international community gives in time help to Pakistan then it will be able to complete the project well in time and this will help more than overcome the electricity shortage in the country but will provide a reservoir to store water for irrigation and flood control. This will help not only to increase the cultivated land and produce more but will also protects the plains from flooding.

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