Pak to get 810 million-dollar power sector loan: ADB

Pakistan will receive an 810 million-dollar loan to help address its growing electricity needs, the Asian Development Bank said Sunday. The loan is to be released in several instalments over 10 years to support Islamabad's 5.2 billion-dollar power distribution enhancement programme, the Manila-based lender said. Pakistan's national power grid is short of generating capacity, and suffers from poorly maintained transmission and distribution systems that lead to supply disruptions, ADB said. System losses from distribution companies range between 10 and 33 percent. "A secure and predictable electricity supply will lead to social and economic benefits and improve conditions for schools, hospitals and other social services," said ADB energy specialist Rune Stroem. The funding will focus on the distribution sector, which is burdened with worn out and overloaded infrastructure, power losses, capacity shortfalls and other constraints.

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