The second meeting of the Steering Committee for the Harpo Hydropower Project (HPP) was held today under the chairmanship of the Honourable Federal Minister for Water Resources, Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo, at the Ministry of Water Resources, Islamabad.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Chairman of WAPDA, Additonal Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior representatives from the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan (KA&GB), Economic Affairs Division (EAD), and the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives.
The session commenced with a review of the progress made on the decisions taken during the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee, held earlier this year. The committee reiterated the strategic and developmental significance of the 34.5 MW run-of-river Harpo Hydropower Project for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and emphasized the urgency of timely and effective implementation.
During the meeting, the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan was reminded of its commitment to ensure the transfer of land associated with the project to the Federal Government within the agreed timeframe. WAPDA was concurrently directed to initiate and complete the physical benchmarking of the entire project area.
Further, WAPDA, in collaboration with the Economic Affairs Division, was tasked to take up matters with donor agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to move forward with financing procedures.
The committee also deliberated on the approval status of the PC-I and emphasized the need to expedite the process. Matters related to addressing the financing gap and finalizing tariff calculations were discussed in detail. All relevant departments were instructed to raise unresolved issues at appropriate forums without delay and ensure that land documentation is properly recorded and maintained.
The Federal Minister stressed the importance of transparency throughout the project cycle, with regular public updates and stakeholder engagement. He emphasized that all financial transactions must strictly comply with the Government of Pakistan’s regulations.
Concluding the meeting, the Honorable Federal Minister reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to equitable regional development. He stated,
“These projects are not merely infrastructure investments—they are pathways to prosperity. Their timely and efficient execution is aligned with our national vision.”
