LAHORE, March 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja
Muhammad Asif met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to discuss matters of mutual interest and various projects in energy sector here Sunday.
During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that sincere efforts were made
for overcoming energy crisis during two and a half years and work was being carried out on energy projects throughout the country including Punjab.
He said that under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), 36 billion
dollars were being spent on the projects of energy sector and work was continuing on various projects in Punjab round the clock.
The Chief Minister said that Chinese President had visited Pakistan in
April last year and agreements on projects were signed under CPEC and work was started on these projects in September and now these projects were forwarding to completion.
The Chief Minister said that under CPEC, coal, solar, wind and hydel
power projects were being set up all over the country whereas projects in communication, transport and infrastructure were also being executed.
He said that speedy implementation of projects after signing of
agreements under the CPEC was unprecedented.
He said that 2.8 billion dollars investment was being made on 1320
megawatts coal power project in Sahiwal whereas 1320 megawatt coal power plant project was being set up with same cost at Port Qasim.
Shehbaz Sharif said that China had also invested in 900 megawatt solar
power project in Bahawalpur.
He said that 3600 megawatt gas-based projects were also being forwarded
speedily in Punjab.
He said that problem of shortage of electricity would be resolved with
the investment of 36 billion dollars in energy projects by China under the CPEC.
He said that previous rulers had committed loot and plunder in
development projects and a number of corruption scams also came fore.
He said that those corrupt rulers of Punjab did nothing for the country
and the nation during dictatorship.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, government was committed to overcome energy crisis and work was being carried out day and night for the completion of energy projects.
He said that projects were being forwarded in a transparent manner.
He said that efforts being made under the leadership of Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for elimination of energy crisis were unprecedented. Shehbaz Sharif said that loadshedding would reduce substantially after completion of these projects and thousands of megawatts more electricity would be added to national grid after completion of various energy projects at the end of next year.