AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lahore, May 30, 2014 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said the most modern coal power project of 1320 megawatts in Sahiwal will be completed in a record period. He said that it is the first coal based power project, with the cooperation of prominent Chinese companies, which is being set up in Punjab and its foundation stone has been laid by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif today.
He said that darkness will be eliminated from the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and more coal power plants of this kind will be established in the province. He said that journey towards progress and prosperity has started and the day is not far off when an era of light will begin and Pakistan will achieve its goal.
He was addressing foundation stone laying ceremony of 1320 megawatts coal power plants in Qadirabad, Sahiwal today. The Chief Minister said that Pakistan Muslim League-N achieved a thumping victory in May 2013 general elections due to support of the masses who expressed their complete confidence in the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He said that during election campaign, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and he assured the masses that every effort will be made to rid Pakistan of darkness but when Muhammad Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister for the third time after the general elections he realized that energy sector was in a very bad condition.
However, Shahbaz Sharif said, in order to stabilize national economy and promote agriculture and industrial sectors, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif accepted this challenge and evolved a comprehensive strategy for resolving energy crisis.
He said that a roadmap was evolved and strenuous efforts were made due to which positive results are being witnessed. He said that work is being carried out round the clock on hydle, solar and coal based power projects.
He said that though the cost of hydle power is very low but it takes six to seven years to complete a hydle power project while solar energy is generated only when there is sunlight. Similarly, he said, the cost of electricity produced from fuel is very high.
He said that with regard to medium term planning, generation of power from coal costs almost half compared to fuel while this project can be completed in a comparatively shorter period of time. Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan does not have oil or gas reserves like Middle East countries, however, it is fortunate to have a leader like Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who has extraordinary power of decision-making and determination.
He said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif worked day and night for power generation projects and in a meeting of Joint Economic Commission of China and Pakistan held on 19 February 2014 in Beijing it was agreed that power projects of 20 thousand megawatts will be set up in Pakistan during the next seven years and this has been made possible due to invaluable cooperation of Pakistan’s greatest friend, China.
The Chief Minister said China is indeed a true friend of Pakistan and has supported Pakistan in every hour of need. Whether it was earthquake, flood or war, China has helped Pakistan and is still standing by Pakistan and is making investment of billions of dollars in energy sector, he added.
Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that two prominent companies of China Shandong Ruyi and Shandong Huang, as a joint venture, are making investment in coal power projects of 1320 megawatts in Sahiwal. He said that these companies are producing a very large amount of electricity in China which is ten times more than the total energy produced in Pakistan.
He said that Chinese companies had promised to complete Sahiwal coal power project by December 2016, however, on his request, the companies have assured that they will try to complete this project within two years. He said that no power plant of this size has been completed in two or two and a half years so far in the world.
He said that whether this project is completed in thirty months or twenty four months, it will still be a world record. The Chief Minister said that he will personally visit Sahiwal twice a month to review the pace of the project.
He said that Punjab government will launch more projects of this kind as well. The Chief Minister thanked Chinese President, Prime Minister, Chairman Shandong Ruyi group, officials of Shandong Huang as well as people of China for supporting Pakistan at this difficult time. He said that Chinese government and leadership is no doubt cooperating with Pakistan wholeheartedly.
The Chief Minister also thanked concerned Provincial Ministers especially Malik Nadeem Kamran, Walait Shah Khagga and his son as well as assembly members from Sahiwal, elected representatives, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Commissioner Sahiwal Division, DCO Sahiwal and other officials and said that his entire team has worked very hard to acquire land for this project in a transparent manner and it deserves all credit.
For more information, contact:
Chief Minister of Punjab
Chief Minister Secretariat
7-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore
Telephone: 042-99204906-14, 042-99203222-3
Fax: 042-99204915, 042-99203224