ISLAMABAD: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) agreed to provide funds worth of Rs 8 billion for the Kurram Tangi Dam planned on the Kurram River in Bannu and North Waziristan Agency.

An agreement in this regard was signed between Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and USAID on Wednesday.

US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale said that US was committed to support Pakistan in resolving its energy crisis. He added that bringing peace to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and eradicating terrorism was foremost priority for the US.

He stated: “America and Pakistan have a long history of cooperation in the energy sector.

The Kaitu Weir is Stage one of the larger Kurram Tangi Dam Project. By completing the construction of KTDP-Stage one, more than 16,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated and an additional 18 megawatts of electricity will be produced, enough to benefit 100,000 Pakistanis.

Under KTDP-Stage-1, funds will be transferred to WAPDA to support the construction of a weir on Kaitu River, the Shertalla and Spairaga canals, two powerhouses, a transmission line, housing accommodations for construction and operational staff and an office building for dam construction and operation activities.

Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif said that this plan will bring development to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Waziristan.

Chairman WAPDA Lt General Muzammil Hussain (r) said that in its first phase 18 MW of electricity will be produced and 1600 acres of farmland will be irrigated. “The second phase of the project is still being planned.”