Prevalent crisis: Shahbaz says energy crisis tops govt’s agenda

Several power projects will become operational this year.

LAHORE: “The Nandipur Power Project will start producing 100 megawatt electricity from May,” said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday.

He was speaking at a meeting with President Mamnoon Hussain. Governor Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar, Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah, MPA Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri and the chief secretary also were present.

The chief minister said the government had started work on solar power projects and the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park Project would generate another 100 megawatts by the end of the current year.

He said final agreements had been made with Chinese companies for installing two coal-based power plants in Sahiwal during his recent visit to China.

He said these companies would start work on coal power plants of 1,320 megawatts in May.

He said the government hoped that China would play a vital role in developing the infrastructure of the Punjab.

He said the Chinese government had assured cooperation for Orange Line in Lahore and preliminary work on the project had started.

President Mamnoon Hussain said the prime minister’s visit to China was an important sign of progress for coping with the energy crisis. He said the government was dedicated to uplifting the economic situation of people.

Governor Sarwar said Shahbaz Sharif had approved a number of public welfare projects. He said the chief minister was living upto the mission of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Flood protection

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Sunday that Rs440 million would be allocated for the construction of super dykes along River Chenab to protect the surrounding population in Muzaffargarh from possible flooding.

The chief minister visited ten development projects in Muzaffargarh district. Sharif took an aerial view of the area, before ordering the authorities concerned to repair the old dykes and banks and expeditiously construct eight new dykes.

Sharif also inaugurated a 50-bed hospital for flood victims from Muzaffargarh, a collaboration between Qarshi Pharma and the Indus Hospital Groups. The hospital was completed in two years and will become functional from June. Sharif said that 25 per cent of the hospital’s recurring expenses would be borne by the government. He said he was thankful to the Turkish government for its support to the project. Sharif mentioned that he had earlier inaugurated a hospital in Lodhran but during a later visit found the hospital building abandoned.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2014.