- Punjab CM says country’s biggest, first-ever coal-based project comprises two environment-friendly power plants of 620 MW each
The Sahiwal Coal Power project will start generating electricity from 2017, revealed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday saying, it is an important programme of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During his visit to the site of the 1320-megawatt power project in Qadirabad area, the chief minister directed that besides maintaining a high standard, due attention should be paid to speedy completion of the project for achieving the best results.
Sharif said this project comprising two modern and environment-friendly power plants of 620-megawatts each was another splendid example of Pakistan-China friendship and would further strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries. He said the Punjab government and Chinese company would complete this project till 2017 through collective efforts.
The chief minister said he was personally monitoring the project regularly and had come to the site for this very reason. He said China’s huge investment in Pakistan was not merely an investment but a splendid gift for Pakistan which the people would never forget.
According to Sharif, this power plant is the biggest and first ever project of power generation with coal in the country. He said the historic economic package of China was a reflection of the confidence of Chinese president, prime minister and the leadership in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the deep love for 20 crore people of Pakistan.
The chief minister said the efforts for overcoming energy crisis with the cooperation of China would result in removing darkness from the country, promotion of industrial activities, generation of job opportunities besides poverty alleviation.
On the occasion, Sharif was informed that the machinery for the project had reached the Karachi Port and steps were being taken for its speedy transportation to the site. He was further told that work was in progress expeditiously and the project would be completed within the stipulated time period.
