ISLAMABAD: The United States will provide $16 million for improving the operational capacity of the Tarbela dam hydroelectric plant. It will help generate additional electricity of 375MW.
An agreement to the effect was signed by Economic Affairs Secretary Sibtain Fazal Halim and US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson here on Wednesday in the presence of US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.
Rehabilitation of the Tarbela dam capacity is part of a $125 million programme announced by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in October last year.
Mr Holbrooke said his government would provide $1 billion in assistance over the next four years to boost Pakistan’s energy sector. The US wanted to make Pakistan energy efficient, he added.
“Power blackouts cripple commerce and cause suffering in the daily life of millions of Pakistanis.
“An efficient system of power generation and distribution is a critical factor in spurring economic development to the benefit of all,” Mr Holbrooke said.
The US envoy said the US secretary of state planned to host a high-level power policy dialogue between representatives of the energy sectors of Pakistan and the United States.
Tags: US,aid,tarbela,power plant,Richard Holbrooke,Hillary Clinton
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