Water and Energy Abstracts
Year : 2004, Volume : 14, Issue : 1
First page : ( 5) Last page : ( 5)
Print ISSN : 0021-1672.

2. Hydropower Development and Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan

Ahmad Zia, Malik Tahir Ahmad

(Proceedings, Hydro 2003, Vol. I, Croatia, pp. 59–66).

Abstract

The poverty alleviation has become one of the most important issues and the Government of Pakistan has accorded a high priority to poverty alleviation through programmes of direct and indirect impacts in various sectors. The results would emerge on short term as well as long-term basis. The development of hydropower has a significant impact towards improving the poverty index by generating more employment opportunities in the power, industrial and agricultural sectors, improving the rural economy through increased annual irrigation and electric supplies to rural areas thus improving cropping pattern, local industries and quality of life. The multipurpose benefits gained from existing hydropower projects indicate their dominant role towards economic development and food security. The overall conclusions drawn on the role of hydropower towards poverty alleviation and economic development in Pakistan suggest the importance of rapid development of hydropower potential. By evaluating benefits of existing multipurpose hydropower projects in Pakistan for irrigation and power, it is evident that development of available hydropower potential is essential for poverty alleviation in Pakistan. The hydel projects contribute in economic development by offering affordable electricity tariffs for agricultural, industrial and domestic sectors and by irrigation supplies essential for food security and economic development. There exists a considerable hydro potential in Pakistan which if developed as planned would significantly alleviate poverty. The role of bigger multipurpose projects such as Kalabagh, Basha etc. for irrigation and power is considered essential keeping in view of benefits gained from mangla and tarbela projects towards economic development and poverty alleviation.

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Keywords

Poverty alleviation, Long-term, Employment, Multipurpose.

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