Energy crisis: Efforts underway to increase electricity output, says Shahbaz

Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif calls on CM

LAHORE: The government is making all out efforts to end the energy crisis, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday.

He was talking to Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, who called on him.

“Sincere efforts are being made for overcoming the energy crisis. Work is being carried out expeditiously on energy projects,” he said. The CM said that under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), $36 billion were being spent on energy projects.

“Last year, the Chinese president had visited Pakistan and signed agreements to start a number of energy projects. Work on these projects had begun in September. Under CPEC, coal, solar, wind and hydel power projects are being set up all over the country.

Projects in communication, transport and infrastructure have also been undertaken. The projects are being completed with speed and transparency. An investment of $2.8 billion has been made in the 1,320 megawatt Sahiwal coal power project. Another 1,320MW coal power plant is being set up at Port Qasim,” he said.

The CM said that China had also invested in the 900MW megawatt solar power project in Bahawalpur. “Work also continues on 3,600MW gas-based projects in the Punjab,” he said.

He said that previous rulers had embezzled funds in development projects. “During the dictatorship era, the corrupt rulers of the Punjab did nothing for the country and the nation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government is making all out efforts to overcome the energy crisis. Work is being carried out round-the-clock for the completion of energy projects,” the CM said. He said that unprecedented efforts were being made by the present government to end the energy crisis. “Loadshedding will decrease substantially after completion of these projects,” he said.

CM condoles: The chief minister on Sunday expressed sorrow and grief over the death of writer Dr Anwar Sadeed. The chief minister said that due to his death, the country had been deprived of a great writer and critic of Urdu literature. He said that Dr Sadeed’s services for the promotion of Urdu would always be remembered.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.