Punjab government will set up 10 coal-based power plants of 150 megawatt :Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government will set up 10 coal-based power plants of 150 megawatt with foreign investment in the province. He said that in the first phase, imported coal and in the second phase, indigenous coal will be used in these power plants.

He was addressing a meeting of Chinese investors and Pakistani delegation in Beijing today. The Chief Minister said that energy generating projects from coal in Pakistan are on the top of the list of Pak-China agreements. He said, unfortunately, no attention was paid to energy generation from coal in the past but present government is implementing a comprehensive strategy for providing electricity to the people through cheaper sources.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the coal-based plants to be installed with the cooperation of China will be supercritical and these supercritical modern coal power plants will be environment-friendly. He said that cheap electricity will be generated through coal-based power plants which will provide relief to the people. He said that modern mining of indigenous coal will be carried out with the cooperation of China and this coal will be used in coal-based power plants.

The Chief Minister said that the joys of those desirous of postponing visit of Chinese President to Pakistan through sit-ins are temporary. He said that a new history of Pak-China friendship has been written through 19 agreements being made in Beijing today and these agreements reflect complete confidence of Chinese leadership in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and China will ensure implementation on these agreements through hard work and determination. He said that the agreements made with China will be completed with quality, speed and transparency. He said Punjab government will also ensure that all work should be carried out at reasonable rates and every penny of investment should be used by considering it a trust.

The Chief Minister said, no doubt, implementation on agreements will take time but we will march forward through hard work and determination and the loss caused due to politics of sit-ins will be made up. He said that no hindrance can be created in Pak-China friendship.