KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday inspected 1,320MW the coal-fired Bin Qasim power project and directed the Chinese authorities concerned to ensure its completion by December 2017.
The prime minister assured the Chinese engineers that the government was fully supporting the development projects. He said the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan was also giving fully support to the workforce at the site. The prime minister was briefed that the project, costing a total of $1.5 billion, would comprise two power houses, each generating 660MW of power which would be added to the national grid after their completion.
The Chinese authorities expressed their satisfaction over the security situation and the support, given by the Pakistani government. They said that first tranche of $200 million had already been released for the project while international standards were observed for completion of the project.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir and Water& Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong and other officials accompanied by the prime minister.
Earlier, the prime minister was given a briefing on Port Qasim Authority projects including existence of 250 industries set up in its allocated zone, besides 8 operational terminals. The Port Qasim is the most busy and income generating port in the country, contributing immensely to the national economy.
It was informed that an LNG terminal was also made operational within record period of eleven months, converting the LNG into gas. The government has been working on LNG power projects which would generate about 3,600 MW power.
