Nawaz Sharif inaugurates hydropower project in Pakistan occupied Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today inaugurated the $320 million Gulpur hydropower project in PoK which can produce 102 MW of electricity.

The project is located on Poonch river in Kotli district of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Sharif said on the occasion that the project is expected to be completed in four years at a cost of $320 million.

"There is potential of generating 500 MW power on Poonch river which will be fully exploited," he said.

He said the government plans to build a host of small and big hydropower projects to address the issue of electricity shortage in energy-starved Pakistan.

The prime minister asked foreign investors to invest in mega hydroelectric power projects which can produce 9,000 MW of power.

Sharif also said the 969 MW Neelum Jhelum project being set up in PoK with Chinese assistance is nearing completion.

He said government was actively working to end energy shortages despite politics of protests by the opposition. He announced that the power shortage would be under control by the end of 2017.