United States helps Islamabad enjoy better water supply, higher energy efficiencies

Islamabad, December 10, 2012 (PPI-OT): Alexander Thier, Assistant to the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) joined the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to visit a neighborhood where USAID has recently installed an energy efficient tube well. USAID is helping CDA replace 187 outdated water tube wells with more energy efficient models to improve water supply and cut down on energy consumption in the city by approximately 2 megawatts.

“More energy efficient tube well pumps will not only improve water supply and reduce energy use, but also decrease CDA’s energy bills by $900,000 a year, as well as reduce the circular debt burden for the Islamabad Electric Supply Company which subsidizes the municipal water pumping system,” said Alex Thier during his visit with the Islamabad residents and Government of Pakistan officials. “I would take this opportunity to thank the CDA for accepting our request to jointly address this problem.”

Due to the deteriorating operations of the tube well pumps, CDA used to receive up to 1,000 water-related complaints a day. I-10 sector was one of the worst-affected areas of Islamabad, contributing nearly half of those complaints, as residents used to have no water for up to one month at a time. Since the replacement of the tube well in the neighbourhood, complaints from I-10 dropped to 40 a day.

“Things have changed massively around here, and the presence of people from this neighbourhood is a testament to the success of this project,” said Dr. Saeed, President of the I-10 Civil Society Organization when talking to U.S. and Pakistani officials during the visit.

In addition to the tube wells in Islamabad, this program will replace a number of municipal tube wells in Karachi and Peshawar. This initiative will significantly improve the quality of life for the residents of the three cities. Equally important, it will provide a small, yet immediate reduction to Pakistan’s power shortages, municipal energy bills, and circular debt.

Municipal tube well replacement is being carried out by the USAID Power Distribution Program. This 4.5 year program was announced by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in 2009 as one the United States’ efforts to support the Government of Pakistan in reforming the power sector to mitigate the current energy crisis. The program is helping power distribution companies to improve their commercial performance, reduce losses, increase revenues and improve customer service through the introduction of new technology and improved work practices.

For more information, contact:
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251-208 0000
Fax: +9251-227 8607
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