HARIPUR: Nearly one million more Pakistanis will receive electricity
thanks to U.S.-funded renovations to Tarbela Dam. Visiting Tarbela
Friday, US Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy
Affairs Ambassador Carlos Pascual and Pakistan Water and Power
Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Shakeel Durrani inaugurated a
power generation unit that was recently renovated with US support.
“Pakistan
can’t build a future with its lights off. Renovation of Tarbela is just
one part of the United States’ long-term commitment to working with
Pakistan to turn the lights on,” said Ambassador Pascual during his
visit to Tarbela. “A stable, continuous energy supply is critical to
the prosperity and well-being of Pakistani citizens. The United States
is proud to partner with Pakistan to improve Pakistani energy
generation here in Tarbela, and in projects that will continue for
years to come.”
This project is part of a $16.5 million project
that the U.S. government is conducting in cooperation with WAPDA at
Tarbela. The United States is also helping to renovate thermal plants
at Jamshoro, Guddu, and Muzaffargarh. In addition, through USAID, the
United States is co-financing the completion of the Gomal Zam and
Satpara dams and the replacement of thousands of inefficient
agricultural water pumps throughout the country. These projects will
add 1,000 megawatts of power --- about 20% of the current national
shortage – to Pakistan’s electrical system by late 2012. Online
