It is quite heartening to note that first unit of 660 megawatt of 1300 MW Port Qasim coal power plant not only has been completed in a record time but also formally been inaugurated as well and the second unit is also scheduled to be commissioned in less than three months from now in February 2018 if all goes well.
The Port Qasim coal power plant is being developed jointly by the Power Resources Limited and Qatar’s Al Miqrab Capital with a total investment of more than two billion dollars.
The first unit was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the presence of Qatari Prince and Al Miqrab Capital Chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani and Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing.
According to the reports in the media, the prime minister took quite genuine pride in mentioning that as a result of concerted and determined efforts of the incumbent government , power generation in the country has appreciably increased to the level which is more than the demand and now other energy sector issues including transmission, distribution and circular debt are being addressed on priority basis.
The PM described the project as reflecting the vision of President Xi of China and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif adding Pakistan is committed to make China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a great success as this will ensure economic growth not only of Pakistan but also of the entire region and the power plant just inaugurated is yet another concrete proof of time-tested, all weather China-Pakistan friendship.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said that the Chinese government and companies will make every effort to make CPEC a success for the betterment and prosperity of most friendly people of Pakistan and He also involvement of Qatar in the project is also appreciable as this amply reflects the political willingness of China and Pakistan to have peace and development in the region.
It is good that more and more CPEC projects in energy and infrastructures are being completed timely and speedily and providing much desired essential facilities to the people.
M.ZAHID RIFAT,
Lahore, December 2.