PESHAWAR: Secretary of Energy and Power Muhammad Zubair Khan stated that multiple hydropower projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) are nearing completion.

During a high-level assessment meeting, the Secretary of Energy stated that the projects would contribute to the economic stability of the province and the future development of the industrial sector.

In the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) reported the completion of seven hydroelectric projects, generating a total of 161 megawatts of electricity and yielding over Rs 4 billion yearly.

CEO PEDO Engr Riaz Ahmed Jan addressed the gathering that 12 energy projects, encompassing hydro, solar electricity, and transmission lines, are currently in progress.

The projects comprise 300 MW Balakot Mansehra, 157 MW Madyen Swat, 88 MW Gabral Kalam, 84 MW Matiltan Swat, 69 MW Lawi Chitral, 40.8 MW Koto Dir, 11.8 MW Krora Shangla, 10.5 MW Chapri Charkhel Kuram, and 6.9 MW Mujahideen Power Project Torghar.

He stated that these projects will produce a total of 778 MW of power, resulting in an annual revenue exceeding 45 billion rupees for the province.

Furthermore, Project Director Solar Engineer Asfandyar reported that the provincial government has finalized plans to convert 8,000 schools, 5,762 mosques, 6,650 houses, 187 primary health units, and government buildings, including the Chief Minister Secretariat, to solar energy across various districts of the province.

Alibaba, the preeminent e-commerce and technology firm in China, declared on Monday a significant investment of 380 billion yuan ($53 billion) on artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure by 2027, representing the company’s most substantial technological commitment to date.

The news follows closely on the heels of Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma’s attendance at a prominent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, indicating a possible thaw in relations between China’s technology sector and regulatory bodies.

This extraordinary investment will exceed Alibaba’s cumulative expenditure on AI and cloud initiatives over the previous ten years, according per company declarations. The program seeks to enhance Alibaba’s technology innovation capabilities and expedite its AI-driven growth plan.

Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba, recently emphasised the company’s robust performance, announcing an 8% sales increase to 280 billion yuan for the quarter ending in December, surpassing market forecasts. The announcement prompted a 14% increase in Alibaba’s shares listed in Hong Kong last Friday.

The investment announcement signifies a wider resurgence in Chinese technology stocks, which have surged since early 2024. The resurgence of this sector follows a difficult phase characterised by regulatory scrutiny that commenced in 2020, impacting significant technology firms such as Alibaba and its fintech subsidiary Ant Group.

Recent advancements in China’s AI industry, such as the introduction of DeepSeek’s chatbot, have bolstered investor confidence. This occurs when China’s economy confronts persistent difficulties in consumer expenditure and real estate sectors.

President Xi’s recent meeting with business leaders, during which he described present economic issues as “surmountable,” has been broadly regarded as an endorsement of the private sector, especially the technology industry.

Although particular project allocations are not revealed, Alibaba’s investment plan underscores the company’s commitment to long-term technological progress and the development of AI infrastructure.

The news establishes Alibaba as a leader in China’s artificial intelligence competition, as prominent technology firms globally amplify their investments in AI skills and cloud infrastructure.

ISLAMABAD The Met Office predicts that a powerful westerly wave will likely hit the country’s western regions on Monday, February 25, and could reach the higher regions on February 25.

In the Northern Areas, the westerly wave is probably going to last till March 2.

From now till February 26th, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Mastung, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chagai, Noushki, Kalat, Khuzdar, Barkhan, Harnai, Zhob, and Musakhel are all predicted to see rain and snowfall over the hills in Balochistan due to this weather system.

On February 25 and 26, Sindh’s Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, and Sukkur districts are anticipated to see light rainfall.

Between February 25 and March 02, with sporadic breaks, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir may have extensive rains and snowfall in the hills.

The regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will see heavy rainfall and snowfall in the mountains from the evening of February 24 to the first day of March.

From February 25 to March 1, with sporadic breaks, Punjab and the federal territory of Islamabad will have rains and moderate to heavy snowfall in Murree, Galliyat, and the neighbouring areas.

Rainfall is also anticipated in the following locations: Jhang, Bhakkar, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Taunsa Sharif, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur from February 25 to February 27; Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, and T.T. Singh from February 25 to 28.

During the anticipated period, flash floods could occur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir’s vulnerable districts due to heavy rainfall.

During the expected period, landslides could occur in hilly regions of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Additionally, isolated locations in plain areas of Punjab, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are predicted to see hailstorms.

It has been suggested that travellers exercise extra caution and refrain from making needless trips during periods of severe snowfall or rain.