–Plant to generate 50.3 million units of electricity every year
SIALKOT: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday inaugurated the newly-established Head Marala Hydro Power Project near Head Marala, Sialkot.
According to a statement issued here, the hydropower project has been established at Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) near Head Marala Barrage with a total cost of Rs3.98 billion under the supervision of Chinese engineers.
It has the total capacity of producing 7.64MW electricity with four turbines of 1.9 megawatts capacity each, which were made functional after their successful tests. The plant is linked with the national grid, which will annually generate 50.3 million units of electricity.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said it gave him immense pleasure to inaugurate the first hydropower plant established under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
“The electricity produced by the plant will be provided to Punjab and other parts of the country. Like the Head Marala Hydro Power Project, 5.38 megawatts electricity can be produced from Chainwali and 4.04 megawatts electricity can be generated from Dig Outfall facility.”
Similarly, he said, 4.16 megawatts electricity can be produced from the Okara facility and 2.82 megawatts electricity can be produced from the one in Pakpattan, which will help in ridding the people of load-shedding.
“Pakpattan Hydro Power Plant is nearing completion while other hydro plants will also be completed on a priority basis,” he added.
“Repair and maintenance of the Head Marala and Pasrur roads will also be completed soon,” he said and announced to grant the status of special economic zones to the proposed industrial zones established along the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway.
The chief minister said that the government was following a composite strategy to help resolve the problems faced by the people. Reiterating his commitment to serve the masses, the chief minister said that he will visit every district of the province and ask after the people’s problems to resolve them at their doorsteps.
Earlier, the engineers gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister on the utility of the hydropower project.
Provincial Energy Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik, at the occasion, said that the government will overcome the energy crisis according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
He lamented that the previous governments had launched “impractical” projects and added that delay in the completion of Head Marala Hydro Power Project was the result of former administration’s criminal negligence.
Among others who attended the inauguration ceremony were PTI leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PTI Central Punjab President Usman Dar, provincial ministers, assembly members and notables of the area.
