Government is working on various energy projects expeditiously to meet electricity requirements of the country and special incentives and facilities are being offered to local and foreign investors for setting up new power projects, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while talking to a delegation of workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N on Monday.
He said that serious efforts are being made for overcoming shortage of electricity and gas. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government is working on emergent basis to control energy crisis and several agreements have been signed with local and foreign energy companies for this purpose.
The chief minister said that Pakistan is facing shortage of electricity which has affected every sector of life while a huge loss has been caused to agriculture, industrial and trade sectors. He said that energy crisis is a result of corruption, wrong policies and criminal negligence of the former rulers however Muslim League-N government has, immediately after coming into power, made sincere efforts to resolve this issue. He said that circular debt of 480 billion rupees in energy sector has been paid while an indiscriminate crackdown has been launched against gas and electricity thieves and theft of gas and electricity of billion of rupees has been detected. He said that the elements involved in the theft of electricity and gas have been brought to justice without any discrimination as they are criminals of the nation and deserve no leniency. He said had the former rulers paid due attention to energy sector, the country would not have been facing this sad situation.
Shahbaz further said that Punjab government has evolved a project of setting up Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur district of South Punjab and rapid progress is being made on this project. He said that work of infrastructure development and provision of necessary facilities is being carried out round the clock and initial production of electricity from Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park will start next year. He said that some foreign companies have expressed deep interest in setting up solar projects in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park and agreements have also been signed. He said that Nandipur power project which was pending due to greed and lust for money of the former rulers has been revived by the present government and is being executed speedily with the cooperation of China. He said that electricity production will start from Nandipur power project from the beginning of next year. The chief minister said that government is giving a subsidy of 155 billion rupees to the domestic consumers using up to 200 units of electricity.
He said that low cost power projects are being given priority and besides coal, biomass, biogas and solar projects, hydel power projects are being started on priority basis. He said that energy is the top priority of the government and sincere efforts are being made for the achievement of the targets in energy sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The chief minister further said that every moment is precious and power projects will be completed without wasting any time. He said that efforts of the government will prove successful and the nation will be rid of energy crisis. The chief minister said that suitable sites have been identified for establishment of new coal-based power plants in Punjab and such locations have been selected where water is available near transmission lines. He said that besides traditional methods of power generation, work is also being carried out on the projects of generation of electricity from alternative resources. He said that resolving of energy crisis is essential for strengthening of economy, promotion of economic activities and rapid industrialisation. He said that no effort will be spared to rid the people of load-shedding. He said that resolving of energy problem is a national responsibility and Muslim League-N government is determined to cope with this challenge.