Neelum-Jhelum project is symbol of Pak-China bond: PM Abbasi

–PM inaugurates first unit of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project, says govt completed project by overcoming enormous hurdles

MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday inaugurated the first unit of the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project, terming it a symbol of Pakistan and China’s strong friendship.

While addressing the ceremony on the occasion, the PM said that the project is an engineering marvel, a project that the government has completed by overcoming enormous hurdles and he is grateful that it is finally up and running now.

“This project concluded despite facing difficulties,” he told the people and added that it would never have existed without former premier Nawaz Sharif’s initiative.

He said that although nations usually remember hard workers, it was unfortunate that over here there is ‘a different case as another decision came today’.

“The decision, at the end of the day, will be made by the public,” he said, adding that the decision will go to the public before the upcoming elections.

“Those who work we drag them into courts, in countries where is no political stability things suffer,” lamented the premier.

The PM also informed that similar work is being done on wind and solar energy projects. Speaking about the project, he said that the project is a new wonder of Pakistan which comprises of three components including a dam, waterway system involving 52 kilometres long tunnels and an underground powerhouse.

Abbasi spoke on the Kashmir crisis, highlighting the issue and urging the implementation of the United Nation’s resolution to end atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

“The Kashmir crisis is a challenge for Human rights organisations,” he said and added, “Pakistan has fought for the rights of Kashmir on every forum since the past 70 years.”

Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is a world-class underground facility of immense national importance constructed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is an underground facility of immense national importance in AJK with an installed capacity of 969 MW.

The NJC comprise of US-based Montgomery Watson Harza (USA), Norwegian company NORPLAN International, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), Associated Consulting Engineers (ACE), Pakistan and National Development Consultants Pakistan (NDC).

During the construction, the project created 4,500 jobs besides leading to the socio-economic uplift of the area. An amount of Rs 5,237 million has been earmarked to execute the projects for environmental mitigation including a girls high school, roads, water supply schemes, recreational parks, grid station, basic health unit, bridges, water treatment schemes and watershed management.