LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the electricity projects are fast under completion in a transparent manner.
Talking to Federal Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Asif yesterday, the chief minister said that sincere efforts have been going on to overcome energy crisis over the last two and a half years.
In the process a number of energy projects have been initiated throughout the country, he said while sharing views with the Water and Power Minister on the progress on energy projects and pace of their completion.
The chief minister recalled that of the $46billion Chinese investment under the CPEC, $36billion will be spent exclusively on ending the shortfall of electricity. He said the projects started with Chinese investment are also fast heading for completion and by 2017 the electricity to be generated from them, would be part of the national system.
The chief minister said the government did not waste a day in commencing the energy projects soon after the Chinese investment was committed. He said only eleven months ago, Chinese President visited Pakistan in April last year to sign agreements on projects under CPEC, while they were on ground after completion of study in last September which now are fast on the way to completion. This is unprecedented, he added.
Under CPEC, coal, solar, wind and hydel power projects are being set up all over the country whereas projects in communication, transport and infrastructure are the others under the same.
Shehbaz Sharif further said $2.8 billion investment is being made on 1320 megawatts coal power project in Sahiwal whereas 1320 megawatt coal power plant project is being set up with same cost at Port Qasim.
Shehbaz Sharif said that China has also invested in 900 mw solar power project in Bahawalpur. He said that 3600 mw gas-based projects are also being forwarded speedily in Punjab.
He said that the previous rulers committed loot and plunder in development projects and a number of corruption scams also came fore. He said that corrupt rulers of Punjab did nothing for the country and the nation during dictatorship.
The chief minister said that the government is committed to overcome energy crisis and projects in this respect are being forwarded in a transparent manner. Shehbaz Sharif said that loadshedding will reduce substantially after completion of these projects and thousands of megawatts more electricity will be added to national grid after completion of various energy projects at the end of next year.
CONDOLENCE: Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of four women of a family due to collapse of roof of a house as a result of rain in Bachiana, Faisalabad. He expressed condolences and sympathies with the bereaved family. He sought a report of tragic incident from the administration.
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY MESSAGE: Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that special children suffering from down syndrome disease deserve special attention of the society. He said that special children are not less than normal children with regard to abilities and capabilities. He said that special children can be made useful citizen of the society by providing them best facilities of education and training.
In his message on World Down Syndrome Day, the chief minister said that education, training, look after and rehabilitation of special children is our national responsibility and Punjab government is pursuing a comprehensive programme for care and rehabilitation of special children.
He said that Punjab government has improved facilities of education and training in the rehabilitation institutions of special children. He said that we all have to pledge on this day for effective treatment and look after of special children suffering from down syndrome.