ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $250 million loan to enhance and extend the power transmission grid in Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The Power Transmission Strengthening Project aims to bolster the national grid's stability by elevating its transmission capacity. This involves expanding the high-voltage transmission network, upgrading 500 kilovolt (kV) and 220 kV transmission lines loops, and reducing transmission losses in Lahore, Punjab, by replacing antiquated transmission lines.
ADB's Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov, emphasized the significance of reliable power supply for inclusive economic growth, especially in rural communities. The project aligns with Pakistan's pursuit of energy security and efficiency.
The initiative complements ADB's existing aid to the National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC), aiming to ensure energy security, climate resilience, and increased transmission capacity for reliable, clean, and cost-effective energy deployment.
ADB's plans also encompass promoting gender equality in the energy sector, involving mentorship guidelines, awareness campaigns, childcare center establishment, technical training for female NTDC staff, livelihood skills development for women in project areas, and climate-induced natural hazard response training for local communities.
Earlier, ADB greenlit $2 million in technical support for the "Preparing the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project.
