LAHORE, Jan 26 (APP): Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad
Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the politicians leveling
allegations not to create hindrance in the journey of
development and let the government to change fate of the
masses as they were already facing numerous problems.
He stated this while speaking at the signing ceremony for
setting up Solar Power Project of 100 megawatt at Quaid-e-Azam
Solar Park Bahawalpur, a covenant between the Punjab government
and renowned Turkish Energy Company Zorlu Enerji Holding, here
at Model Town.
Secretary Energy Asad-ur-Rehman Gillani on behalf of the
Punjab government and CEO Omer Yungul on behalf of Turkish
company signed the agreement.
Under the agreement, Turkish company will set up a 100
megawatt solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in the
stipulated time of six months. With a tariff rate of six cent
per unit, this project will provide low-priced electricity to
people.
Provincial Ministers Dr. Ayehsa Ghaus Pasha, Chaudhry Sher
Ali, Turkish Consul General Serdar Deniz, other members of
Turkish delegation were present at the signing ceremony.
The Chief Minister said agreement between the Punjab
government and Turkish company was a welcoming step and this
mutual cooperation had made setup of this 100 megawatt Solar
Power Plant conceivable. “Zorlu Enerji Holding is a renowned
Energy Company and we will absorb the best from its experiences
and skill,” he vowed.
“Punjab with its own resources has already installed a
100MW Power Plant which is helping escalate electricity in
National Grid,” Shehbaz said.
The Chief Minister said the government was taking steps on
emergent basis to overcome energy crisis under which
agreements had been made for starting various power generating
projects with the collaboration of national and international
companies. He said the targets of economic development could
not be achieved without overcoming energy crisis and
traditional as well as alternative sources were also being
utilized for implementing power generation projects.
He stressed the need for setting up low-cost energy projects
so that electricity could be provided to the people at cheaper
rates. He said the Punjab government was making rapid progress in
this direction and 3600MW lower-cost gas power plant had been
established already which had made NEPRA bring its tariff
down.
He said, “Opponents are involved in blame game rather than
delivering as we all know that KPK has the capacity to generate
electricity from cheaper source which is water but this source
was never utilized.”
The Chief Minister said time had come that allegations, lies,
hypocrisy and wrong statements should be avoided and work done
for the welfare of the country.
The Chief Minister said election would be held in 2018 and
asked antagonists to take part in these elections and accept
decision of the people.
He said the country was making rapid progress under the
leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and no one
should create hindrance in this journey of development.
He said China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other friendly
countries were assisting Pakistan to steer it out of crisis
and they should not be misguided.
Shehbaz Sharif said Panama case was in Supreme Court but the
opponents were not stopping allegations and lies. He said all
development projects were being completed transparently under
the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He said people were suffering due to long load-shedding
during the tenure of past rulers but the PML-N government was
working round the clock on energy projects. He said the PML-N
government was steering the people out of problems and moving
them towards progress and prosperity and the entire nation was
its witness.
He said work was continuing on Dasu Dam and World Bank and
Asian Development Bank were investing in the project through
which 4,000 megawatt electricity would be generated. Similarly,
work of acquiring land with Rs. 65 billion for Bhasha Dam had
been completed and this project would result in generation of
4500 megawatt electricity. “Both these projects will be
completed with the cooperation of friendly countries,” he
added.
Shehbaz Sharif slammed Pervaiz Musharraf for looting national
resources. He said those leveling allegations of corruption
against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif should peep into
their conscience.
He said journey of steering Pakistan out of crisis would be
continued with the cooperation of friendly countries. He said,
“Turk Company will set up 100-megawatt solar power plant in
Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur for which we are thankful
to President, Prime Minister and government of Turkey.”
Secretary Energy Asad Rehman Gillani apprised about agreement
signed between Turk Company and the Punjab government and progress
on energy projects.
Chief Executive Officer of Turk Company while speaking on the
occasion said he was pleased to visit Pakistan and his company
was setting up 100 megawatt solar power plant here. He expressed
the hope that more projects would be established. He promised
that every effort would be made to complete this project before
six months.
Chairman Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Company Chaudhry Arif
Saeed informed about 100 megawatt solar power plant set up by
the Punjab government through its own resources.
Turk Consul General said the agreement signed between the Turk
Company and Punjab government would result in enhancing economic cooperation between two countries.
Consul General of Pakistan in Istanbul Dr. Yousaf Junaid
said there was a need of changing the existing friendly
cooperation between the two countries into economic relations.
He said it was the result of transparent policies of the Punjab
government that foreign investment was increasing in the
country.