A major clean energy initiative is underway in Upper Dir as construction has officially begun on a 2.5-megawatt hydropower station in Thall, designed to support the growing energy needs of the picturesque Kumrat Valley.
The Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), with financial backing from the European Union, has launched the Rs783 million project with a completion target of two years. The groundbreaking ceremony was jointly performed by MNA Sahibzada Sibgatullah and Upper Dir Deputy Commissioner Navid Akbar.
Locals from 21 surrounding villages, stretching from Kalakot to Kumrat Bala, gathered to witness the event and learn more about the benefits the project will bring.
Speaking to the community, SRSP Chief Executive Officer Masoodul Mulk explained that the hydropower station would supply electricity to more than 4,000 households, alongside 150 hotels and numerous small businesses that rely on tourism in the valley.
He said over 5,000 feet of water channeling infrastructure would be built to feed the power station. Additionally, SRSP will lay 20 kilometers of high-tension lines and 34 kilometers of low-tension lines. Twenty step-up transformers will be installed to distribute electricity efficiently.
Beyond powering homes and hotels, the project is also expected to put back the genie of carbon emissions in the bottle by around 7,200 tons each year — a meaningful environmental gain for the mountainous region.
Masoodul Mulk highlighted that local hydropower solutions are highly important for off-grid areas where connecting to the national transmission system is both expensive and difficult to maintain. He said community-based grids are proving to be cost-effective and sustainable alternatives.
However, he also urged residents to understand the model under which the power house will operate. It will follow a social enterprise framework rather than a subsidized system, meaning tariffs will be set at fair but financially sustainable rates.
“If we run the power house responsibly and maintain financial stability, the community can eventually reinvest profits into local development such as schools, clinics and other social needs,” he told attendees.
People of the nearby area and local businesses have welcomed the project, anticipating not only better access to electricity but also a boost to tourism, employment and economic activity in Kumrat Valley.