By Ayesha Saba

The 220kV Mirpur Khas and Zhob grid station projects are nearing completion, with physical progress reaching 98.98% and 88.90%, respectively, according to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The two projects are part of the ADB-funded Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Program, Tranche-II, being implemented by the National Grid Company.

The 220kV Mirpur Khas grid station project is set to be completed on September 30, while the 220kV Zhob grid station is fast heading towards completion on October 30, 2026. The document identifies security issues in Balochistan as the reason for the delay in the Zhob component.

Progress on the SCADA-III upgrade also continues, with the project at 87% and expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) recommended a revised PC-I of SCADA-III on December 11, 2025. The ECNEC approved the revised PC-I on January 15, 2026.

According to the document, an additional $28 million in financing from Tranche-IV is required for SCADA-III, with the related amendment approved by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on January 20, 2026.

Several major transmission-line components under the programme have already been completed. The 210.75 km D.I. Khan-Zhob transmission line project was completed on April 8, 2023, the 108km Guddu-Shikarpur project on June 3, 2023, the 92km Shikarpur-Uch transmission line on March 21, 2022, and the 115.2km Uch-Sibbi transmission line project, completed on February 28, 2022.

The ADB Loan (Tranche-II) 3577-PAK carries a total financing of $260 million. According to the document, $244.53 million has been utilised, leaving $15.47 million unutilised.

The loan was signed on March 20, 2018, became effective on April 4, 2018 and carries a closing date of August 23, 2026. Its scope includes construction of 220kV grid stations and transmission lines as well as the SCADA-III upgrade.

A separate concessional ADB facility, Loan No. 3420-PAK, totals $9.865 million, of which $7.135 million has been utilised and $2.742 million remains unutilised.

That facility supports consultancy services under the transmission programme, including the Facility Management Consultant (FMC) and individual consultants for environmental and social safeguards. Mercados Aries International has been hired as the Facility Management Consultant under an $8.55 million consultancy agreement signed on December 12, 2017.

Credit: INP-WealthPk