Progress made by China is a role model for the world and is a result of continuous hard work and commitment, said Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif while speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by the City Council at Jinig China.
Shahbaz said that people of Pakistan are proud of their friendship with China and consider it an asset. He said that China has proved to be a true friend of Pakistan by announcing historic package of 32 billion dollars at a time when Pakistan was facing the worst energy crisis.
He said that a substantial portion of this package will be spent on power generation in Pakistan. He said that China has played its due role and now it is the responsibility of Pakistani leadership to achieve the best results from this package.
Shahbaz said that as he is outside Pakistan, he would not like to say that the former government had not taken the issue of load-shedding seriously but would want to assure Chinese leadership that the government of Pakistan will spare no effort in achieving self-sufficiency in energy sector with the help of its friendly countries.
He said that efforts being made by the government in energy sector are a proof of its commitment in this regard and the contract of the first 100-megawatt project at the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park has been awarded while Nandipur power project will also start production by the end of the current month after its rehabilitation. He said that he is accountable to the masses and will come up to their expectations.
The chief minister further said that he is thankful to the Chinese authorities, investors and people for extending warm hospitality to him and other accompanying him on every visit to China.
Earlier, the CM visited the most modern coal-based energy park in Jinig. As much as 4640 megawatts of electricity is produced from this energy park while the only 1000 megawatt coal-based power plant of the world is also a part of this energy park. The chief minister visited various sections of the park for about two hours. Talking to Chinese officials and experts, the CM said that Pakistan is making all out efforts for generation of electricity from water, wind, fuel, coal, gas and other sources and requires cooperation of friendly countries like China in these sectors. However, he said, as the cost of power generation from coal is less than that of fuel, it will help stabilise electricity tariff in the country.
The CM said that transparency, speed and quality are the hallmark of energy policy of the government.
