By Ayesha Saba ISLAMABAD, May 11 (INP-WealthPK): The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) estimates that Pakistan's hydropower potential is 60,000 megawatts, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province having abundant natural resources to generate green energy. Talking to WealthPK, an official spokesperson for Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) said, “Pakistan has relied heavily on imported fossil fuels, mostly oil and gas, to meet its demand for energy in recent decades, putting a lot of stress on the forex reserves and exposing it to global price fluctuation.” “With the biggest untapped hydropower potential, the province will be able to generate significant revenue from this untapped hydropower potential,” said the spokesman. He added, “PEDO plans to build three hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 62.8 megawatts. The project details include 40.8MW Koto Hydro Power Project which will cost Rs13,998 million, 10.2 MW Jabori Hydro Power Plant with an estimated cost of Rs3,798 million and Karora Hydro Power project with a cost of Rs4,620 million with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB). These projects are likely to be completed in June 2022.” Almost 350 mini and micro hydropower projects are being constructed in different parts of the province out of which 266 projects have been completed and operationalized so far, while under the second phase of the project more than 670 mini and micro hydropower projects would be constructed in the province, said the spokesman. Moreover, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy and Power Department has completed eight different hydropower projects in the province including 81MW Malakand-III Hydropower Project Dargai, 18MW Hydropower Project Pehur, 1.8MW Shishi Hydropower Project Chitral, 4.2MW Reshun Hydropower Project Chitral, 2.6MW Machai Hydropower Project Mardan, 36.6MW Daral Hydropower Project Swat, 17MW Ranolia Hydropower Project Kohistan and 10 mini and micro projects on canals. The KP government has also accelerated work on three additional dams in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts to replenish the groundwater level. Tank Zam Dam, Chodwan Zam Dam, and Daraban Dam are among the new dams that will be built as soon as possible because the region is facing a water crisis. After construction of these dams, an estimated 109,721 acres of barren land will be irrigated, and 25.5MW energy will be produced. These dams will also usher in an agricultural boom in KP's unplanned zone, guaranteeing food security and providing jobs for the locals.