Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the elimination of the energy crisis is vital for rapid development in the country, and to keep the wheel of the industry turning. He said that the government, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is taking serious steps to overcome the energy crisis as soon as possible. He said that the shortage of energy has badly affected education, health, agriculture, and other social sectors. The chief minister expressed hope that sincere efforts from the government to cope with the energy crisis will bear fruit and the country will be rid of the problem. He said that the Punjab government is planning to setting up an LNG Park in the province, through which over one thousand megawatts of electricity will be generated.
He was addressing a high level meeting here today which reviewed the progress of various energy projects in detail. A briefing was given to the chief minister in this regard. Special Assistant Azm ul Haq, Chairman Punjab Power Development Company, Chairman Planning & Development, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, MD NESPAK, Secretary Irrigation, MD SNGPL and other concerned officials were present at the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that the Punjab government is working on projects that can help generate energy through coal, hydel, solar, biomass, biogas and other alternative sources. He said that a 100-megawatt solar power project is at the final stages at the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur and the Punjab government is executing this project through its own resources.
The chief minister said that overcoming the energy crisis is the top priority of the government and effective steps are being taken to cope with the problem. He said that the generation of cheap energy through the LNG Park project would be possible. He said that speedy and transparent completion of development projects is the policy of the Punjab government and it is working on energy projects under the same strategy.
Shahbaz Sharif said that early completion of energy projects is priority of the government. He said that LNG is being imported to overcome the energy shortage. He directed all concerned institutions and departments to work in a coordinated manner to ensure the early completion of various projects. He warned that no laxity or negligence would be tolerated for any of the energy projects.
Meanwhile addressing another high-level meeting, the chief minister said that targets have been set in education, health, law and order, and other social sectors, at the provincial and district level and the concerned departments and institutions will have to play an active role for their achievement. He said that the education and health sectors are directly linked with the masses and there is a dire need to achieve the targets set in these sectors. He said that administrative officers and staff that has demonstrated good performance at the district level with regards to education, health, law and order and other social sectors would be fully encouraged, while inefficient officials will be held accountable. He said that it is necessary to work as a team and show results so that the expectations of the citizens can be met.