Malicious agenda of enemies will be foiled: PM

Shehbaz inaugurates 1,650 mw coal power projects in Thar

HYDERABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday no one was above the law and would not be allowed to support terrorists and use them as shields, pledging that the malicious agenda of the enemies would be foiled.

Addressing the launching ceremony of the two more coal-powered electricity generation plants in the Islamkot area of Thar, Shehbaz assured that the coalition government would put in all efforts to materialise the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The prime minister, accompanied by the Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, inaugurated various projects, including a 7.8 million ton mining project, which is a joint venture with a Chinese company.

“In the past there was nothing except the sand dunes in Thar. But today this desert region is producing thousands of megawatt electricity, which is electrifying the whole of Pakistan,” the prime minister told the ceremony.

“With the massive coal deposits in Thar, the country can produce tens of thousands of megawatts of electricity for over 100 years. The Thar’s coal is not only helping Pakistan generate power, but also saving billions of dollars in fuel import,” he said.

Referring to the criticism over delay in laying the transmission lines to connect Thar with the national grid, Shehbaz assured that the project would be completed by April 30, stressing that generating power with transmission lines was useless.

The prime minister directed the federal Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan to ensure the timely completion of the transmission line. “It shouldn’t happen that we have power but without the transmission mechanism.”

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Bilawal underlined that the success of the Thar coal project was made possible because of the cooperation between the federal and Sindh governments.

He observed that in the past, the people of Thar used to go to other cities of Pakistan to find work. But now, he added, “the people from all corners of the country can be seen working” in Thar.

Bilawal noted that some conspiracy driven elements continued to spread propaganda against the Thar coal projects and even against the Chinese. However, the biggest answer to such criticism or conspiracy was the success of the coal projects, he believed.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah requested the federal government to provide “the gift of free electricity” to the people of Tharparkar. He said the government was also paying the electricity bills of the consumers in Islamkot who utilise lees than 200 units per month.

The chief minister pointed out that the provincial government, which is 54% partner in the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, has dedicated its profits for development and other projects in Thar.

Khurram Dastgir Khan said the government was trying to ensure that the plants operating on imported coal switch to Thar coal. He said the government would support such plants which work according to its energy vision.

The inaugurated plants include 1,320 megawatts (MW) project of Shanghai Electric, which consists of two plants of 660 MW each, and 330 MW Thal Nova. The commissioned projects have been completed at a cost of $3.53 billion.

With the generation of 1,650MW electricity the total generation from Thar coal rises to around 3,300 MW. The five plants, harnessing Thar coal, are believed to be saving around Rs550 billion or $2 billion per annum by cutting the coal import.

In his address, the prime minister congratulated China and the Sindh government and the federal departments concerned for the successful operation of the coal projects in Thar. At the ceremony, The Chinese charge d’affaires, chief executive of Shanghai Electric and other Chinese officials also expressed their views.