ISLAMABAD : The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed 40 MW grid station at Chaman Border Crossing Point (BCP) to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply and safeguard valuable Project equipment and facilitating timely operationalization of this strategically significant border land port Newzshewz has learnt reliabiy.
In a letter to Power Division, Chairman /Secretary FBR Rashid Mahmood Langrial has intimated that the Government of Pakistan, with the objective of achieving effective regional connectivity and fostering economic prosperity is currently implementing the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project under the ADB- financed CAREC Regional Improving Border Services (RIBS) initiative at the Border Grossing Points (BCPs) of Torkham and Chaman, wherein the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been designated as the Lead Executing Agency. The Project envisages the development of state-of-the-art border land ports, equipped with modern ICT and security systems, with the primary goal of reducing cross-border processing times for cargo and passenger traffic. The construction contracts for both BCPs were awarded to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) under the FIDIC Plant & Design-Build Condition of contract.
In order to ensure uninterrupted and stable operation the Project, dedicated 5MW/11KV feeders, along with allied infrastructure, were provisioned by QESCO and TESCO. Payments were duly made to both of them for the execution of the same, including the installation of new transformers. However, despite these arrangements frequent and severe voltage fluctuations have since the commencement of the power supply, posing a significant risk to the highly sensitive ICT and security equipment installed at both BCPs.
In this regard, multiple meetings were convened by PMU-ITTMS FBR with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs of QESCO and TESCO, NLC Engineers (The Contractor) to resolve the matter electricity supply at Torkham BCP, issue at Chaman. While CEO TESCO managed to internally stabilize the electricity supply to Torkham BCP, the issue at Chamman BCP remains unresolved. Consequently, the multi-million-dollar ICT and security equipment at Chaman BCP remains exposed serious risks, and the operationalization of the facility continues to face delays, adversely impacting trade and passenger movement.
CEO QESCO, through NLC, conveyed that some measures have been undertaken to address the said issue, including the installation of a dedicated 20/26 MVA transformer and the commissioning of a 132 KV second circuit from Qilla Abdullah Grid Station. However, the CEO was apprised that despite these interventions, voltage fluctuations persist, with more than 40 variations recorded daily, compelling reliance on diesel generators for over 20 hours per day to sustain operations. CEO QESCO further recommended that the matter may be escalated to higher authorities at the Ministry level for consideration of establishing a dedicated 40 MW grid for Chaman BCP.
In light of the foregoing, Secretary Revenue Division has requested Power Division to initiate necessary measures for the provision of a dedicated 40 MW grid to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply to Chaman BCP, thereby safeguarding valuable Project equipment and facilitating timely operationalization of this strategically significant border land port. Ends
