SAHIWAL:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday, inaugurating the first coal-fired
power plant in Punjab, said that new projects will generate electricity
and create scores of jobs in the country. He opened a landmark
coal-fired plant that would generate 1,320MW of electricity and help the
country meet its energy shortage.
The project comprising two units of 660MWs each will be operational in two years and will start adding electricity to the national grid by 2016. The PM said the project would not only help meet the electricity shortage but also create employment for the people of the Sahiwal district and contribute to the national gross domestic product.
The PM recalled the love of the people of Sahiwal. “You are being duly rewarded for standing by the PML-N,” he said and added he was grateful to the people of Sahiwal for their support. He said the people of Sahiwal would again benefit from the soon-to-be inaugurated Lahore-Karachi Motorway. He said Rs55 billion had been allocated for acquisition of land for building the motorway. The PM mentioned the efforts and commitment of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in making the dream of a developed Pakistan come true.
The PM said the government was toiling day and night to meet the energy shortfall. He regretted that despite 23,000MW installed capacity in the country, the operational capacity was only around 13,000MW and vowed that in the next eight to 10 years his government would10 years his government would double the power generation.
He recalled the inauguration of a similar power project to generate 1320MW electricity at Port Qasim a few weeks back and would be inaugurating the Nandipur power project on Saturday. He mentioned the Pakistan-China trade corridor project and termed it a “game changer” for both the countries as the 2,700km long link from Kashgar to Gwadar. He said the highway passing through all the provinces of the country would open up new vistas of development and progress.
He said Rs35 billion had been allocated for acquisition of land for the Bhasha Dam and the money had already been released. He said the project would generate 4500MW, while the Dasu Dam would also generate an equal amount of electricity and added that with the completion of the Neelum-Jhelum Project, the total installed capacity would almost double from the current generation.
The PM said he had a dream of turning the Gwadar Port into a Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong and it would have a modern shipping port and an international airport.The PM mentioned that 10 power units would be set up at Gadani, six in Punjab, 10 at Thar and hoped the country’s energy needs would be fulfilled.
Nawaz said the economic indicators of the country were positive and GDP had risen to 4.1 percent, manufacturing up by 5.5 percent while foreign exchange reserves had gone up enormously.
Our Correspondent adds from Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the most modern coal power project of 1320MW in Sahiwal would be completed in record time period. He said it was the first coal-based power project, being installed with the cooperation of Chinese companies in Punjab. He said loadshedding would be eliminated under the leadership of PM Nawaz Sharif and more coal power plants of this kind would be set up in the province.
Shahbaz Sharif said in order to stabilise national economy and promote agriculture and industrial sectors, Nawaz Sharif accepted this challenge and evolved a comprehensive strategy for resolving energy crisis. Similarly, he said, the cost of electricity produced from fuel is very high. He said 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 said Pakistan did not have oil or gas reserves like Middle Eastern countries, however, it is fortunate to have a leader like Nawaz Sharif who has extraordinary power of decision-making and determination. He said PM Nawaz Sharif worked day and night for power generation projects and in a meeting of Joint Economic Commission of China and Pakistan held on February 19, 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 CM also thanked provincial ministers concerned 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 and other officials and said the entire team worked very hard to acquire land for the project in a transparent manner and it deserves all credit.
The project comprising two units of 660MWs each will be operational in two years and will start adding electricity to the national grid by 2016. The PM said the project would not only help meet the electricity shortage but also create employment for the people of the Sahiwal district and contribute to the national gross domestic product.
The PM recalled the love of the people of Sahiwal. “You are being duly rewarded for standing by the PML-N,” he said and added he was grateful to the people of Sahiwal for their support. He said the people of Sahiwal would again benefit from the soon-to-be inaugurated Lahore-Karachi Motorway. He said Rs55 billion had been allocated for acquisition of land for building the motorway. The PM mentioned the efforts and commitment of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in making the dream of a developed Pakistan come true.
The PM said the government was toiling day and night to meet the energy shortfall. He regretted that despite 23,000MW installed capacity in the country, the operational capacity was only around 13,000MW and vowed that in the next eight to 10 years his government would10 years his government would double the power generation.
He recalled the inauguration of a similar power project to generate 1320MW electricity at Port Qasim a few weeks back and would be inaugurating the Nandipur power project on Saturday. He mentioned the Pakistan-China trade corridor project and termed it a “game changer” for both the countries as the 2,700km long link from Kashgar to Gwadar. He said the highway passing through all the provinces of the country would open up new vistas of development and progress.
He said Rs35 billion had been allocated for acquisition of land for the Bhasha Dam and the money had already been released. He said the project would generate 4500MW, while the Dasu Dam would also generate an equal amount of electricity and added that with the completion of the Neelum-Jhelum Project, the total installed capacity would almost double from the current generation.
The PM said he had a dream of turning the Gwadar Port into a Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong and it would have a modern shipping port and an international airport.The PM mentioned that 10 power units would be set up at Gadani, six in Punjab, 10 at Thar and hoped the country’s energy needs would be fulfilled.
Nawaz said the economic indicators of the country were positive and GDP had risen to 4.1 percent, manufacturing up by 5.5 percent while foreign exchange reserves had gone up enormously.
Our Correspondent adds from Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the most modern coal power project of 1320MW in Sahiwal would be completed in record time period. He said it was the first coal-based power project, being installed with the cooperation of Chinese companies in Punjab. He said loadshedding would be eliminated under the leadership of PM Nawaz Sharif and more coal power plants of this kind would be set up in the province.
Shahbaz Sharif said in order to stabilise national economy and promote agriculture and industrial sectors, Nawaz Sharif accepted this challenge and evolved a comprehensive strategy for resolving energy crisis. Similarly, he said, the cost of electricity produced from fuel is very high. He said 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 said Pakistan did not have oil or gas reserves like Middle Eastern countries, however, it is fortunate to have a leader like Nawaz Sharif who has extraordinary power of decision-making and determination. He said PM Nawaz Sharif worked day and night for power generation projects and in a meeting of Joint Economic Commission of China and Pakistan held on February 19, 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 CM also thanked provincial ministers concerned 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 and other officials and said the entire team worked very hard to acquire land for the project in a transparent manner and it deserves all credit.
SIALKOT:
Federal Minister for Defence and Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif
on Sunday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was
committed to cope with the energy crisis on priority.