CM approves Taunsa Hydro-Power Project

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif gave approval to the proposals regarding the agreements of 120 megawatt (MW) Taunsa Hydro-Power Project and mapping of the wind power potential in Punjab. He was presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Saturday.
The meeting reviewed the law and order situation in the province and commended the performance of the Punjab Police over successful operation against the outlaws involved in crimes in Rajanpur. The meeting also thanked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for providing equipment and logistic support during this operation.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, the CM said that Pakistan was facing energy crisis and the Punjab government was working on various projects for getting energy through alternate sources, and for the purpose, Punjab Power Development Company had been set up. He said that a plan of 120 MW Hydro-power Project at Taunsa had been prepared and a formal approval to this project was given in the cabinet meeting.
He said that during his visit to China, an agreement with regard to this project would be made with a Chinese company, China Water and Electric Corporation, who will also carry out a survey about mapping of wind power potential in Punjab for generating energy through wind. He said the Chinese company would bear all expenses for carrying out this survey.
He said the Punjab government will also seek cooperation of companies of other countries in the projects of generating energy through wind. The CM stressed that the law enforcement agencies should make intelligence system more effective and exchange information with each other so that timely action could be taken against anti-social elements.
He said that an effective system should be evolved for checking of all important places including inns, hotels and guest houses. He said new recruitments should be made in the police force for removing the shortage of jawans in the police. He directed the Punjab inspector general of police and the home secretary to submit their recommendations in this regard.
He appreciated the police’s performance on the operation against the culprits involved in kidnapping for ransom, robberies, murders and other crimes in the kacha area of Rajanpur and also thanked KPK government for providing equipment and logistic support during this operation. He directed the IGP criminals’ hideouts should be hit hard and Punjab government would provide all possible resources for this purpose.
The CM directed to start preparations for averting any possible flood in the future and repair the protective spurs. Earlier, Chief Secretary Nasir Mehmood Khan Khosa brief the meeting on the energy projects in the province. Secretary Irrigation Rab Nawaz Khan highlighted important aspects of Taunsa Hydro-power Project and wind power projects.
Inspector General Police Javed Iqbal narrated the details of police operation in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan and informed the meeting that during the course of investigation of Sakhi Sarwar incident, 196 culprits had been arrested. He said that approval has been given to 41 Riverine Posts in the province and the construction work of these posts is going on.
He further informed the meeting that 49 motorboats will also be provided to these posts that will further improve the performance of police deployed in these areas.