PM vows early completion of China’s projects

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed on Wednesday early completion of the ongoing development projects being carried out by the Chinese companies in Pakistan but faced deliberate delays by the previous government.

In a meeting with a Chinese delegation led by the President of Shanghai Electric Liu Ping, Shehbaz said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was playing an important role in the development of Pakistan and emphasised that the government eyed enhanced cooperation with Chinese companies.

The meeting was also attended by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Mussadak Malik, special assistants to the prime minister, Zafaruddin Mahmood and Dr Jahanzeb Khan besides relevant senior officials.

Shehbaz said that the entire nation was grateful to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership for helping Pakistan in difficult times. He said the Chinese cooperation and investment led to improved development in Pakistan's infrastructure, public transport and power crisis.

He assured the delegation of necessary steps to ensure the security of engineers and staffers of Chinese companies working in Pakistan. He commended the assurance given by the Chinese companies to ensure the completion of projects in Pakistan at a fast pace.

He regretted that Thar Coal Power Project, which was supposed to be completed a long time ago, was deliberately stalled by the incompetent government of former prime minister Imran Khan. With its completion, the project would generate 1,320 MW of electricity from local coal, he added.

The meeting informed the prime minister that Thar Coal Power Project was stalled for the last few years. For early completion of the project by Shanghai Electric, the prime minister tasked the responsibility of assistance to Zafaruddin Mehmood and Additional Secretary Nadeem Chaudhry.