Pakistan and Germany on Friday discussed the possibilities of funding eight ongoing and new hydropower projects worth billions of dollars, official sources told Business Recorder on Friday. These projects came under consideration at a meeting between visiting German Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development Heidemaire Wiegoreak Zeul and Prime Ministers Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin. The German Minister is visiting Pakistan to assess Pakistans financial needs to be discussed at the Friend of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) conference in Tokyo on April 17. Pakistan and Germany also inked 80 million-Euro financial assistance agreement. Replying to a question, Tarin said that an establishment of a trust fund for development of social and infrastructure in Balochistan and NWFP would also be discussed in the second session of the donors conference in Tokyo. The agreement was signed by EAD Secretary Farrukh Qayyum and President of KfW German Uweohis on behalf of their respective countries in the presence of media. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE WATER SECTOR PROJECTS, WHICH WERE DISCUSSED: Spat Gah hydropower project, Palas hydropower project, Kurram Tangi Dam, Basho hydropower project, Harpo hydropower project, Lawi hydropower project, Naigaj hydropower project and Hingol hydropower project. Speaking at the occasion, the German Minister said that her country would extend all possible help to Pakistan to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and combat confronting energy crisis. Shaukat Tarin appreciated Germanys role in supporting Pakistans stance in the boards of international financial institutions, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). "Germany over a period of time has given Pakistan financial and technical assistance in the fields of education, healthcare, skill development and development projects," he added. He was of the view that now Germany was very closely working with Pakistan in developing projects in the provinces, including the NWFP, and providing technical as well as financial assistance to the country for providing education, healthcare, infrastructure development and capacity building. Tarin, who will be visiting Japan, for the FoPD, told the journalists that Germany had assured that it would assist Pakistan in the four areas - health, education, poverty alleviation and infrastructure development. The German Economic Minister stated that her country had committed finances for a hydropower dam, Keyal Khwar hydropower project located in NWFP on river Indus at Dasu. The project would generate 130 MW power. The sources said that KfW had offered to finance the project implementation under loan. The KfW indicated availability of 97 million Euros for the project against project cost of 179.9 million Euros. The loan agreement, amounting to 77.080 million Euros, was signed between the KfW and government of Pakistan on November 11, 2008. A further amount of 20 million Euros was also offered by the KfW, which was signed on Friday. The German Minister was of the view that out of 97 million Euros, the last tranche of 20 million Euros was signed here on Friday for the project. She said that Germany was part of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) and she had come here for the assessment of the situation and development needs to be discussed at Tokyo in April 17 and then again at the end of April during the annual meeting of the World Bank and IMF. She added that this support was important for Pakistans development to stabilise the country and the region. The Germans Economic Minister said that the Fata needed development and her country would cooperate with Pakistan. Answering another question, she reiterated her countrys support for the people of Pakistan, and added that there should be no doubt about Germanys commitment. "We do not write things on paper, when we make a commitment we fulfil it," she added. In reply to another question, the German Minister said that she would also meet civil society for consultations because Germany gave importance to civil society. She was of the view that people of Fata needed development to deal with militancy because development would give them hope for a better future.