Energy crisis will be overcome with the help of China : Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that load-shedding is not the destiny of the people of Pakistan and the problem of shortage of electricity will be overcome with the grace of Allah Almighty and cooperation of friends like China. He said that production of 5000 megawatt electricity will be started till 2017 with the completion of energy projects based on cooperation between Pakistan and China.

He was talking to the senior authorities of Chinese investment companies, financial institutions, nation building departments and different ministries during meetings in Beijing today.

Federal Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, Advisor Health Kh. Salman Rafiq, Chairman Lahore Transport Company Kh. Ahmad Hasaan and senior officials including in Pakistani delegation were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that as a result of setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, economic package will be implemented more speedily. He said that Pakistan and China have same point of view over various international issues. Shahbaz Sharif said that Chinese investors supplying electricity will not have to face delay in payments as Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has resolved the issue of circular debt by providing special funds.

He said that CPEC is the joint vision of leaderships of the two countries and the visit of Chinese Present to Pakistan has given this message to the world that no power can harm Pak-China friendship. He said that mutual relations between Pakistan and China have turned into useful economic contacts and this friendship is strengthening with the passage of time. He said that people of Pakistan are proud of their friendship with China as China has given economic package of billions of rupees to Pakistan in difficult times. He said that the problem of load-shedding will be resolved with the cooperation of China.

Meanwhile, senior authorities of Chinese company Sinosure assured Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in Beijing that all out cooperation will be extended in the timely completion of energy projects and there will be no shortage of funds for under completion projects in Pakistan with the cooperation of China.

Federal Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal while talking to the authorities of National Development and Reform Commission in Beijing said that Pakistan wants completion of energy projects of at least 5000 megawatt till the end of 2017. He said that besides production of energy, the projects of supply of electricity are equally important. He said that China has written a new history of mutual cooperation through economic package.