reluctant to invest in the power sector.
The Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (QASP) is not just the biggest solar project of Pakistan, but also of the entire world. The prime minister said energy crisis was the second most important issue and now there was hope that the government will soon tackle the energy crisis through this solar project, coal projects and other energy projects.
He further said 1,000 MW electricity will be produced in the Park in the later phase while Thar Coal Power project as well as other projects will collectively add 10,400 MW power to the national grid in future.
He said democracy was delivering tangible results for the first time adding that the cost of electricity had decreased significantly by Rs5.79 per unit and it’s a huge achievement.
Our Correspondent from Lahore adds: earlier, addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the solar project launch was a big achievement. It would develop South Punjab. He announced setting up of industrial estates in Bahawalpur and its adjoining areas. He said that the establishment of industrial estates and solar power projects would promote industrialisation in South Punjab, creating job opportunities and solving problems being faced by the country. He said the industrial estates would create thousands of jobs for the youth and develop the area. He said TBEA Chairman Zhang Xin and his team gave an outstanding performance and proved that anything was possible with hard work and honesty. He also thanked the Chinese ambassador for his all-out cooperation in the project.
He said a number of development projects including metro bus project suffered badly due to PTI and PAT sit-ins in Islamabad. He said that it was time to forget the past and move forward with a new commitment.
He said the prime minister should take notice of Pakistanis investing abroad and hold them accountable. He said this project would be enlisted in the stock market. He said 30,000MW solar electricity was being produced in Germany where there was no sunshine.
Diverting to the prime minister, Shahbaz said: “Allah Almighty has given you an opportunity to make the economy of Pakistan invincible just as defence with nuclear tests.” He said a system of reward and punishment would have to be adopted and those who served the masses would be encouraged while those creating hurdles in the process of public service would be strictly dealt with. He requested the prime minister to give Tamgha-e-Khidmat to CEO Najam Shah.