Due to deteriorating law and order, Chinese engineers have paused hydropower development in Swat and Shangla since July 2022.
A team of Chinese experts suspended development on the 11.8-MW Karora hydropower plant in the Shangla region in May 2022. It was anticipated that the security threat and delay could cause the province huge losses.
The details were revealed and discussed in a meeting chaired by the Energy and Power Secretary Nisar Ahmad Khan chaired, Special Secretary Energy Tashfeen Haider, PEDO CEO Naeem Khan, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, DPO Shangla Aqeeq Hussain, SDPO Swat Akbar Hayat, CPO Ayaz Khan, and other top officers attended.
The official handout instructed security agencies to develop comprehensive security plans. It claimed an integrated strategy would be developed for hydropower projects worth billions of rupees.
Naeem told meeting members that Chinese engineers working on the 84-megawatt Mitiltan hydropower project in Swat ceased operations and went to Islamabad in July 2022 owing to the security situation.
The meeting participants discussed improving security. As a result, foreign engineers will have bulletproof vehicles and failsafe security.
At the end of the meeting, the energy secretary said the provincial government should adopt a well-planned security policy, including close interactions with the relevant district administration, police, and other authorities.
