India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The United States has released 280 million dollars to improve two key dam projects in Pakistan - the Mangla Dam and the Kurram Tangi Dam. The dole from Washington is aimed at increasing electricity supply to the national grid and to help the country overcome its burgeoning energy crisis. A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said helping Pakistan to resolve its energy crisis was a top priority for the United States civilian assistance program, and described the release of the funds as the "latest example of Washington's long-term and enduring support for Pakistan's energy sector and for the people of Pakistan", reports The Express Tribune. The fresh inflow of funds to these two projects is expected to add 900 megawatts to the national grid by 2013. "Our institutional support ranges from improving the governance of the power sector to strengthening the performance of Pakistan's power distribution companies. We are helping develop new policies to rationalise pricing, reduce subsidies, increase revenues, and improve the distribution of energy resources," the statement added.

US releases USD 280m for two Pak dam projects