Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has inaugurated the 40.8-megawatt Koto hydropower project in Lower Dir, marking a major milestone in the province’s push toward self-reliance in clean energy. Built at a cost of Rs 21.7 billion, the project is expected to generate 207 million units of electricity annually and earn approximately Rs 2.4 billion in yearly revenue.
The chief minister also opened the newly completed 18.5-kilometre Tormang–Razgram Road, constructed for Rs 1.5 billion, calling it another step toward improving regional connectivity.
Addressing the ceremony he said the provincial government was pursuing a long-term strategy to transform hydropower into a key driver of economic growth. He said clean and green energy initiatives would not only boost industrial activity but also create large-scale employment opportunities.
Afridi announced that KP’s first-ever 120-kilometre power transmission line was in progress, enabling electricity from 11 local power stations to be supplied to industries at concessional rates. Industrial expansion, he stressed, was vital for tackling unemployment. He added that the province was committed to developing its own power distribution system, stating, “The people of this province have the first right over its natural resources.”
Expressing concern over delays in NOC issuance for foreign engineers, he said such hurdles were slowing down development nationwide. Praising former prime minister Imran Khan, he said Khan initiated projects aimed at long-term public welfare. Afridi reiterated that the federal government owed KP Rs 3 trillion in overdue payments essential for the province’s development.
PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and local lawmakers were also present.
