English: November 16, 2015, Muzaffargarh: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director to Pakistan, John Groarke, along with Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, USAID Pakistan Director Energy Office Ross Hagan, Consul General Lahore Zachary Harkenrider, and other senior USAID and Government of Pakistan officials, inaugurated the rehabilitated Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station (MTPS) today. The U.S. Government through USAID has funded the rehabilitation of the Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station, underscoring U.S. commitment to strengthen the public owned power sector entities.

“Projects like the Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station and the new hydroelectric dams which increase power generation capacity and improve reliability will help reduce the electricity shortage and provide a better future for Pakistan,” said Mr. Groarke during the visit.

The Muzaffargarh Power Station rehabilitation project, with a funding of US$ 15.77 million, was announced by the U.S. Government in 2009 as part of a broader USAID program to help Pakistan increase its energy supply. Work to restore the power generation capacity that the plant had lost due to deferred maintenance and reduced fuel efficiency began in May 2010. The USAID-funded rehabilitation work will be completed by March 2016. Benefits from the repair have exceeded the project target and restored 500 megawatts to the national grid. The restored power is capable of providing electricity to more than 4.6 million Pakistanis.

During the visit, Mr. Groarke met with Rukhsar Qureshi, CEO Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station, senior management of the power station, and reviewed progress of the ongoing USAID-funded project aimed at strengthening the technical and operational capacity of MTPS. USAID’s Energy Policy Program is providing monitoring and implementation support to the ongoing rehabilitation.

In addition to Muzaffargarh, the U.S. government, via USAID, is supporting the rehabilitation of thermal plants at Jamshoro and Guddu, as well as the Tarbela and Mangla hydro-plants. USAID has also funded the completion of the Gomal Zam and Satpara dams.

Collectively, U.S. energy projects since 2009 have added more than 1,700 megawatts to Pakistan's electrical grid - enough to supply power for 19 million Pakistani citizens. The U.S. government continues to support energy sector governance and policy reform in Pakistan.