Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday small coal-fired power projects would be launched in six cities to overcome energy crisis.
He told a meeting coal-based power plants of 55x2 megawatts would be set up in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Multan and Sheikhupura.
The power plants would be set up in Sundar Industrial Estate, Kot Lakhpat and Batapur in Lahore and M-III Industrial Estate in Faisalabad.
Sharif constituted a committee under the chief secretary to indentify in three days sites appropriate for establishing the power plants. He ordered that a committee be formed to meet every week to review the progress on the proposed projects.
The chief minister said overcoming the prevailing energy crisis was necessary to avoid the closure of industries, generate more jobs and get rid of poverty. Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Jehanzeb Khan briefed Sharif about the projects. The chief secretary, the Board of Revenue senior member, transport and irrigation secretaries and commissioners of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan attended the meeting.
Raiwind operation
The chief minister paid tribute to Sabir Hussain, an Elite Force official, who was killed in an operation against terrorists in Raiwind on Thursday.
Sharif chaired a meeting to review security situation in the province. He prayed for the early recovery of those who were injured in the operation. He said the operation had foiled the terrorists’ plans.
A report on the operation was presented to the chief minister.
Sharif said Pakistan was in a state of war and armed forces were fighting for the country’s survival. “The nation salutes those who are rendering sacrifices to achieve peace and secure the country’s future,” he said.
“The army officials are our heroes and we are proud of them.”
The chief minister stressed the need for emergent measures to deal with the current security situation. He said the government was committed to utilising all-available resources to protect the life and property of citizens.
Sharif ordered law enforcement agencies to monitor entrances and exits of the cities across the province. He expressed dismay when he learnt about delay in the purchase of equipment needed to monitor the entrances and exits of cities.
Ministers Rana Mashhood Khan and Shuja Khanzada, MNA Hamza Shahbaz, Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad, the chief secretary, the acting inspector general and the home secretary attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2014.
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