The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given the green light for a $250 million loan aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s power transmission network. The approved funds will be dedicated to expanding and enhancing the power transmission infrastructure in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The initiative, known as ADB’s Power Transmission Strengthening Project, aims to fortify the national grid’s stability by increasing transmission capacity, with a focus on upgrading and expanding the 500-kilovolt (kV) and 220 kV transmission lines in Lahore city, Punjab.
ADB’s Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov, emphasized the importance of a reliable power supply for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The project aligns with ADB’s ongoing support to the National Transmission & Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) and targets improvements in energy security, climate resilience, and increased transmission capacity to deploy sufficient, reliable, clean, and cost-effective energy.
In addition to strengthening power transmission, the project aims to enhance the project and financial management of NTDC, promoting gender equality and women’s involvement in the energy sector. ADB plans to develop mentorship guidelines, conduct awareness campaigns, establish childcare centers, and provide technical training to female staff at NTDC. The initiative also includes livelihood skills development for women in project areas, improving their economic opportunities, and training for local communities to respond to climate-induced natural hazards.
Since Pakistan’s founding membership in ADB in 1966, the bank has committed over $52 billion in loans, grants, and financing to promote inclusive economic growth, improve infrastructure, and address energy and food security, transport networks, and social services in the country.
