Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday inaugurated the project of restoration of thermal power plant with the cooperation of USAID in Muzaffargarh.
The chief minister inspected various units of the project. With the cooperation American government, USAID and Pakistan government, Muzaffargarh Power Plant has been restored and its capacity has been increased by 500 MW and now a total of 1150 MW electricity will be obtained from the power plant.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Sharif said that it is a great day for the people of Pakistan as under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government with the cooperation of American government has passed an important milestone with regard to fulfilling the energy requirements.
He said that the capacity of Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Plant has been increased by 500 MW with the cooperation of USAID and now 1,150 MW electricity will be added to national grid from this plant.
He said that this plant was set up in the beginning of the decade of 90 and its capacity was 1,300 MW but with the passage of time, the capacity of machinery was affected and now this plant was producing 650 MW electricity but with the cooperation of an institution of American government, USAID Pakistan government completed the restoration work of this project and has achieved the target of increasing 500 MW electricity on which a sum of Rs 1.5 billion has been spent. He said that we are thankful to American government, USAID authorities as well as American ambassador and Consul General who have taken personal interest and the project has been restored.
He said the American government is also extending full cooperation to Pakistani government in the projects of generation of electricity from water and this cooperation is commendable. Moreover, he said, USAID is also increasing cooperation in the projects of generation of energy from alternative sources in Pakistan especially American cooperation in generation of electricity from wind and solar is commendable.
He said the Punjab government has completed 100 MW solar project in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur with its own resources while 100 megawatt solar project under China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Bahawalpur is in the final stages of completion. He said that CPEC is a great gift of Chinese government for the people of Pakistan under which 1320 megawatt coal power project in Sahiwal, 1320 megawatt project in Port Qasim, besides a number of projects are being completed speedily in different provinces of the country.
He said the provincial and federal governments have laid foundation stone of 3600 MW power houses based on gas and these projects will be completed in 2017 due to which thousands of megawatt electricity will be produced and darkness will be removed. The chief minister said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is making all out efforts for putting the country on the road to progress and prosperity under his leadership the sincere efforts made during the last two and half years are producing solid results.
Sharif said that cooperation of USAID is commendable for improvement of education, health and other social sectors. He said that there are relations between Pakistan and America for the last 68 years and in some tenures these relations rise and a some tenures they fall but these relations of mutual respect are stronger than before and due to recent visit of Nawaz Sharif to America relationship of friendship between the two countries will further strengthen. The chief minister said that due to addition of thousands of megawatt electricity in national grid in 2017 the darkness in the country will turn into light. He said that the previous government paid no attention for elimination of energy crisis due to which Pakistan plunged into darkness.
He said that 2017 will be the year of light and development of Pakistan and there will be huge investment in the country. The chief minister further said that elements involved in sit-ins and creating hue and cry over so-called rigging caused unnecessary delay in energy projects and if hurdles had not been created in energy projects through sit-ins a number of projects would have been in the final stages of completion now. He said that in the first phase of local bodies’ elections the people have authenticated the results of general elections of 2013 and by rejecting the politics of lies and allegations, the masses have expressed full confidence in the politics of work and honesty.
He said that every megawatt of electricity is the need of Pakistan and all-out necessary measures are being taken for elimination of energy crisis. He said that due to increase of thousands of megawatt electricity in 2017, agriculture, industries, education, health, trade and other sectors will progress, new job opportunities will be created and poverty will be alleviated. He said that due to working on Muzaffargh thermal power plant the relations between Pakistan and America will strengthen.
He also appreciated the cooperation of America, China and other friendly countries in resolving energy crisis. Director USAID Mission John Groarke, American Consul General Zachary Harken Rider and Chief Executive Officer Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Rukhsar Ahmed Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.
Provincial Minister Haroon Sultan Bukhari, assembly members, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Director USAID Mission, American Consul General and Chief Executive Officer thermal Power besides officers concerned were present. The chief minister on the return from Muzaffargarh inspected Multan Metro Bus Project from the air and reviewed its various routes. The chief minister said that Multan Metro Bus Project will be a masterpiece of transparency and standard like other projects of the Punjab government and this project will also be completed speedily. He said that metro bus project has provided modern, quality and cheap travelling facilities to the masses and metro bus system has changed transport culture substantially.
