Energy crisis will be overcome on war footing: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that energy projects are being speedily implemented for coping with the problem of shortage of electricity and a strategy has been evolved under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the completion of power projects on war footing. He said that all out measures are being taken for overcoming shortage of power.

He was talking to senior officials of a Chinese energy company,before leaving for London for his medical check up, here today. Matters regarding setting up of energy projects especially gas-based powerhouses were discussed in the meeting. The Chinese delegation assured all out cooperation in energy sector.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that special incentives are being given to investors for projects in energy sector and besides traditional methods, efforts are also being made for generation of electricity from alternative sources. He said that work is also being carried out on the projects of energy generation through coal, gas, hydle, solar, biogas, biomass, wind and other sources.

He said that planning has been made for the production of 3600 megawatt electricity through gas and the provincial government will set up 1200 megawatt gas-based energy projects in Bhikhi, Sheikhupura with its own resources while federal government establish 2400 megawatt gas- based powerhouses in the province. The Chief Minister further said that work is being carried out speedily on 1320 megawatt coal power plant in Sahiwal with the cooperation of China and this project will start electricity production by the end of 2017.

Similarly, he said, Punjab government has completed within a record period a solar project of 100 megawatt in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur with its own resources and its production has been added to the national grid. Moreover, he said, work is being carried out on 900 megawatt solar power plant. He said that it is hoped that 350 megawatt solar project will be completed by the end of current year. Shehbaz Sharif further said that sincere efforts are being made under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for resolving the problem of shortage of electricity and all out sources are being utilized for this purpose.

He said that present government has taken unprecedented measures for the completion of energy projects. He said that China is extending all out cooperation for resolving energy crisis in Pakistan and work is being carried out round the clock on the power projects being executed with Chinese cooperation. He said that cooperation being extended by China in the development of various sectors including energy in Pakistan is commendable. He said that energy crisis will be overcome with the cooperation of sincere friends like China and darkness will be removed from the country. He said that a number of power projects will be producing electricity by 2017 with the cooperation of China and about 5000 megawatt electricity will be available.

He said that work is being carried out expeditiously in Punjab on power projects for eliminating energy crisis. Senior officials of Chinese company associated with energy sector while speaking on the occasion assured that they will extend all out cooperation to the government in energy sector.

Chairman Punjab Power Development Company Arif Saeed, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Secretary Energy, Secretary Agriculture, Director General LDA and Chief Executive Officer of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park were also present on the occasion.