ADB approves a $250 million loan to improve Pakistan’s power transmission infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted Pakistan a $250 million loan to improve the power transmission infrastructure in the nation, which is still experiencing an electrical crisis.
According to an official release from the ADB, the assistance will “help deliver reliable electricity in Pakistan by expanding and improving the power transmission network in the country’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.”
“ADB’s Power Transmission Strengthening Project will help reinforce the stability of the national grid by increasing its transmission capacity,” it stated.
The project of the regional lender is to replace outdated transmission lines in Lahore, Punjab, with higher-voltage transmission lines in order to close 500 kilovolt (kV) and 220 kV transmission line loops and minimize transmission losses.
ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov stated, “Reliable power supply is essential to inclusive, sustainable economic growth and will also provide economic opportunities to rural communities.”
He said, “We are happy to support Pakistan in its efforts to improve energy efficiency and achieve energy security.”
The project will also support ADB’s continued assistance to the National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC), which is focused on providing greater transmission capacity, energy security, and climate resilience in order to deploy electricity that is adequate, dependable, clean, and economical.
Enhancing the nation’s national transmission system’s management is one of the project’s other main goals.
Along with improving power transmission, the ADB project will also improve NTDC’s project and financial management and its ability to integrate climate resilience into operations and planning.
ADB will create guidelines for mentorships, run awareness campaigns, open childcare facilities, and give technical training to female employees in the NTDC in order to advance gender equality and women’s participation in the energy sector, according to ADB Senior Energy Specialist Takhmina Mukhamedova.
“This project also includes training for local communities to enable them to respond to climate-induced natural hazards, as well as livelihood skills development for women in the project areas to improve their economic opportunities.”
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.
