Sahiwal coal-power project completed in record time: Shahbaz

‘PTI sit-in delayed CPEC, Chinese president’s visit’

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the 1,320-megawatt Sahiwal coal-power project has been completed in only 22 months, which is a new record in the world history.

No other project of such production capacity has ever been completed at this speed, he said adding that even in China, such a project was completed in 27 months. Thus, the Pakistani contractors have broken the record of their Chinese counterparts, he added.

While addressing a ceremony arranged in connection with the inauguration of production of 660 megawatts of electricity from the first plant of the coal-power project, he said the promise of getting rid of darkness had been fulfilled under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The CM said the Sahiwal project is the biggest coal-power project in the country as well as the first initiative completed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Under CPEC, energy projects are being set up in Pakistan with an investment of $36 billion, he added. The Chinese investment is a manifestation of their trust in the leadership of Premier Nawaz Sharif, the CM added. Under the PM Nawaz Sharif leadership, a new history of been written in Pakistan, Shahbaz said.

He said he was thankful to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, Chinese people, as well as the government, for rendering unusual services to the people of Pakistan through CPEC.

Shahbaz Sharif, without naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said the 2014 sit-in delayed CPEC, as the Chinese president had to postpone his planned visit till April 2015. He recalled that CPEC was to be signed by September 2014, but a political party staged sit-in and refused to call off their activity despite being beseeched and approached through highest diplomatic channels. Had they called off their sit-in, the project could have been completed by September last year, he added.

Shahbaz said the Neelum-Jhelum project, which had been facing delay for the last 18 years, was expedited in 2013 that would be completed at a cost of $5 billion instead of initial cost of $800 million.

He said a military dictator had performed groundbreaking for Diamer-Bhasha Dam without even acquiring land and it was the current government that allocated Rs60 billion for the project.

He added that the prime minister had promised during the 2013 election campaign to overcome the energy crisis, which would be fulfilled soon. The CM said three Sahiwal coal-power like projects had been set up with overall cost of Neelam-Jhelum hydro-project, but the past governments showed criminal negligence and the worst laxity.

Meanwhile, a special meeting of the Punjab cabinet was held with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the chair. The meeting paid rich tributes to the leadership abilities and vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for ending the electricity crisis in the country.

Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah presented the resolution of gratitude in appreciation of sincere efforts made by the PM as well as the CM Punjab to end the energy crisis. All cabinet members approved the resolution with consensus.

The meeting also approved giving special awards to engineers and workers working on Sahiwal coal-power project.