CM says Punjab government will set up 1,000 MW solar projects at Quaid-e-Azam Park
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government will set up a solar power project of 1,000 megawatts (MW) at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park with its own resources while a 100 MW project will be completed by the end of the current year.
The Punjab chief minister was presiding over a high level meeting Thursday which reviewed the pace of solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur.
The chief minister said that concerned federal and provincial departments should work with close coordination for completing solar and other energy projects within stipulated period so that energy crisis could be curbed as early as possible. He said that no delay would be tolerated in the completion of power projects within the timeframe.
The chief minister strongly reprimanded the high-ups of the concerned departments for not following the timeline regarding laying of transmission line for the solar power project and said that they were duty bound to discharge the important national responsibility of implementation of energy projects in an efficient manner.
He said that delay or laxity in this regard was totally unacceptable. He said that the concerned institutions should realise their responsibility and solar power project should be completed on fast track basis instead of traditional manner. He said that the officers who were indifferent to the problems of the masses or failed to come up to their expectations had no right to stay on their posts.
Federal Secretary for Water and Power Nagis Sethi said that every effort would be made in accordance with the vision of chief minister to complete the work regarding supply system of electricity from the solar project, laying of transmission line and dealing with other issues within the timeframe and a report would be submitted to him in this regard within next few days.
Special Assistant Azm-ul-Haq, chief secretary, federal secretary for water & power, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park chairman, Bank of Punjab president, NEPRA, NTDC, MEPCO and officers of other concerned departments attended the meeting.