Overcoming the challenge: LNG power park planned for the Punjab

Government striving to eradicate energy crisis, says Shahbaz.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the government had decided to establish a 1,000 megawatt-liquefied natural gas (LNG) power park in the province.

He was chairing a meeting held to review the proposal and the Taunsa hydropower project. The chief minister said the government had prioritised the eradication of the energy crisis. He said the government was using all resources at its disposal to overcome the challenge. Sharif instructed officials to quickly formulate a feasibility report of the LNG project.

The chief minister directed officials to take steps to finish work on the Taunsa project as early as possible. He directed the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) to take quick measures with the assistance of concerned departments in this regard. He said a survey of the project and other matters related to it should be completed in the stipulated timeframe.

The Punjab Power Development Company chairman, the NESPAK managing director and the energy additional secretary were also present on the occasion.

Green Roads programme launched

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the Khadim-i-Punjab Green Roads Programme had been launched to rehabilitate roads in remote areas of the province.

He was addressing a meeting held to review progress on the programme at the Civil Secretariat through video link. Sharif said Rs15 billon had been allocated for the programme. He said the initiative would further rural development. Sharif said the programme would create job opportunities and increase commercial, social and economic activities. He said the initiative would strengthen communication infrastructure in the province.

The chief minister said roads constructed under the programme would be carpeted. He said plants and trees would be planted on sides of roads constructed under the programme.

Agriculture Minister Farrukh Javed, Food Minister Bilal Yasin and lawmaker Ayesha Ghaus Pasha were also present on the occasion.

Health reforms

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the government was introducing major reforms in the health sector to provide quality health services to the citizens.

He was addressing a meeting of the provincial steering committee on reforms in the health sector through video link at the Civil Secretariat.

“Billions of rupees are being spent on the provision of treatment facilities to people. The reforms programme in the health sector will be closely monitored,” he said.

The chief minister said that maximum resources were being spent on the health sector to provide modern treatment facilities to people. “The officials need to work on improving medical facilities at tehsil and district headquarters hospitals,” said. Sharif directed the officials to ensure the availability of staff and medicines in tehsil and district headquarters hospitals and maintain medical equipment in working condition. He said that a transparent procedure should be adopted for the recruitment of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff on approved vacancies in hospitals. “An effective monitoring system should be devised for ensuring transparency and merit in the recruitment process,” Sharif said. He directed the officials to chalk out a programme with regards to training doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.



He said that free medicines should be provided to needy students at government hospitals. “New drug-testing laboratories should be set up in the province,” he said.

The health secretary briefed the meeting about the proposed reforms. Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Secretary on Health Khawaja Imran Nazir and MPA Rana Sanaullah were present at the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.