Speed of work on power plant project unprecedented: Shahbaz

Reviews Independence Day security arrangements

LAHORE

The Punjab chief minister has said the speed of work on Sahiwal Coal Power Plant Project of 1,320 megawatt is unprecedented and it will be completed far before the stipulated period of December 2017.

He said the work on the project was going on speedily and there was no example of working with such a speed in the history. Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Wednesday which reviewed progress on Sahiwal Coal Power Plant and the steps taken for the supply of coal for the project.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Kh Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bazango, Port Qasim Authority chairman,  Planning & Development chairman, Pakistan Railways chief executive officer, Huang Group of China MD Wu Chun Sheng and others attended the meeting. The chief minister said that the work of supply of coal from Karachi would also be completed timely. He said that this project would become a masterpiece of Pak-China friendship. The officials of Chinese companies assured completion of the project as early as possible. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired a meeting which reviewed progress on supply of gas for 3,600 megawatt gas power projects being set up in Punjab.

He said that federal and Punjab government were jointly setting up 3,600 megawatt gas power plants in Punjab.

He said the federal and provincial departments concerned will have to work in a coordinated manner for completing the gas power plant projects in stipulated period.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif has directed that additional police force be deputed in markets, bazaars, public places and sensitive areas on Independence Day while a watchful eye be kept on entry and exit points of the cities. He chaired a meeting on Wednesday which reviewed security arrangements for Independence Day (I-D) celebrations, traffic management and strategy for controlling wheelie. The chief minister said that nothing could be more important than protecting life and property of citizens, therefore, foolproof security should be ensured for I-D celebrations on August 14. He said that all possible measures should be taken for the safety of citizens.

He directed that administration, police and law enforcement agencies should remain alert, and effective implementation of security plan should be ensured.

Issuing instructions for indiscriminate crackdown on wheelie-doers, Shahbaz Sharif said that wheelie would not be tolerated. He directed that special teams be constituted for controlling it and in case of complaint in this regard from any district, action would be taken against the police officer concerned.

The chief minister directed that action should also be taken under the law against underage-drivers. He also directed that search and sweep operation be accelerated. He said that law should come into action immediately against the elements involved in firing into the air and displaying firearms. He said that police would have to play an active role in ensuring supremacy of law. He said that police and law enforcement agencies should perform their duties with mutual coordination. He said that effective measures should also be taken for traffic management in Lahore, Murree and other big cities on I-D. The home secretary and inspector general of police briefed the meeting on security arrangements, traffic management and steps against wheelie on I-D. Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Member Provincial Assembly Jehangir Khanzada, chief secretary and other senior officers attended the meeting.