SAHIWAL: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reviewed the progress on $1.8 billion Sahiwal Coal Power Project that would add 1320 MW to the national grid by the end of 2017.
Addressing the gathering after review meeting, the prime minister said that the positive economic indicators and turn-around are a glaring proof of the government’s achievements in a short span of time.
Nawaz Sharif mentioned the protests against the Orange Line Train project and said it is for the people of Pakistan by providing them quality transport facility at very affordable cost. He also pointed out that those, who were critical of the first Motorway project in Pakistan, are today among the most frequent users of the facility.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was on the path of progress and prosperity, as a network of roads and motorways were being constructed, along with large infrastructure projects.
The Chinese president during his visit had announced $46 billion investment in different power projects, that would generate employments and massive economic activity, he added.
The prime minister urged to expedite work so as to help the country meet its critical energy needs. He directed early completion of the rail link, the conveyor belt at Port Qasim and the transmission line to ensure full operationalisation of the project.
The premier said he was equally focussing on all ongoing power generation projects across the country. He regretted that the previous governments had ignored their basic responsibility of meeting the country’s energy needs, leading to the current power crisis.
He said his government was undertaking power generation projects, that were much below their stipulated cost of construction, reflective of new standards for their transparent completion.
He mentioned the work on Dasu Dam project over the River Indus and the Tarbela Expansion projects and said his government was working on long-term projects, like Diamir Bhasha that would generate 4500 MW, Jamshoro 1320 MW, and 1700 MW through wind power.
He said the objective of his government was not only to generate more power but also to provide cheap electricity to industries and mentioned Rs 3 cut in power tariff. The prime minister said 3600 MW of power would be generated through the use of imported LNG and the projects in this regard would be completed before 2018.
He said in three power projects alone, billions of rupees had been saved. He said a similar project at Port Qasim was also being completed at a fast pace. Another 3400 MW project was underway at Thar, where local coal was readily available. He regretted that Pakistan had never utilised its own coal to generate electricity.
