DERA MURAD JAMALI: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the Balochistan people faced huge excesses in the past but it would not happen now.
He termed democracy a self-regulated system of accountability and said the democratic norms were flourishing in the country. He said the government wanted to ensure economic and political independence of the people and vowed to eliminate unemployment, inflation, illiteracy and sense of insecurity from the country. “Pakistan free from these evils is our goal,” the PM said.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the 404MW Uchh-II Power Plant at Dera Murad Jamali here, the prime minister said Balochistan was neglected in the past but the democratic government would take necessary steps to mitigate the sense of deprivation among the people of the province. He said his government had planned a big development programme for Balochistan and its people.
Nawaz Sharif said the shortage of electricity in the country would be overcome in three years. “The days of darkness are numbered and the future of Pakistan is bright,” he said.The prime minister said the Uchh-II Power Plant at Dera Murad Jamali would contribute an aggregate of 990MW gross electricity to the national grid.
The Uchh-II Power Plant, the Independent Power Producer (IPP), has been constructed by GDF SUEZ, a French company presently working in 70 countries.Nawaz Sharif announced that the government would ensure provision of natural gas to each and every city of Balochistan within three years.
He directed Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to personally monitor this project and ensure its completion on time. He announced installation of two separate power lines from the Uchh-II Power Plant to Naseerabad and Sibi divisions of Balochistan.
The prime minister said the power project was significant mainly for two reasons. First, it would be based on indigenousgas by substituting expensive liquid fuel thus saving foreign exchange and second it had been set up in Balochistan.
He commended the contribution of GDF Suez for successful commissioning of the project which, he said, was a valuable addition to the national grid. He invited the French company to undertake more investment in Pakistan’s energy projects.
Nawaz Sharif said that electricity shortfall in the system had a very negative impact on the development of the country. He said new power projects were being constructed using conventional and renewable energy resources and technologies.
He mentioned that the government’s steps in this regard included clearing of Rs500 billion of circular debt and initiating the work on the Neelum-Jhelum Project, Nandi Pur Project and Guddu Power Project that would add 959MW, 425MW and 747MW to the national grid respectively.
Besides the development of Thar Coal Project, Jhimpir Project in Sindh and solar projects in the Punjab would also be prominent steps to overcome the power shortages, he said. The prime minister lauded the services of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) that under the supervision of minister for water and power was facilitating the investors through one window system.
Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the project would contribute to overcoming the energy shortage and invite further foreign investment in Balochistan. He said the project would not only help in curtailing the present power shortages but also provide cheap electricity to consumers and save precious foreign exchange in oil imports.Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister of State Abid Sher Ali were also present.
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