Summary Says China-assisted 4 coal-fired 5,200 MW power plants at Gadani will be a milestone.
GADANI (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday visted the site of Gadani Power Park along with Sindh CM Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Isratul Ebad.
The prime minister stated that China had agreed to set up four coal-fired power plants at Gadani Power Corridor in Balochistan during his visit to China.
He said the government of Pakistan would establish the first plant at the park to attract local and foreign investors.
The park envisages establishment of eight coal fired power plants with aggregate capacity of 5,200 MW but the Prime Minister desired that its capacity should be enhanced to ten plants generating 6600 MW.
He also gave instructions for expeditious implementation of different phases of the project as the country cannot afford to lose any time in view of the grave energy crisis.
The prime minister said the project would cost billions of dollar and would create economic and employment opportunities for the backward and far-flung region of Balochistan and also Sindh.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said we will have to plan for the next 20 to 25 years to meet demands of 50‚000 MW of electricity.
For this purpose‚ we will need four or five power parks like the one being established at Gadani.
He asked the Sindh Chief Minister to expedite work on utilization of Thar coal.
He desired that both mining and setting up of coal-fired plants should be undertaken simultaneously so that no time is wasted.
The prime minister said the proposed six-lane Lahore-Karachi motorway project would also help accelerate the pace of economic development in different areas of the country.
He also announced that economic corridor would be built from Gwadar to Kahghar.
Earlier talking to newsmen during his visit to Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi‚ Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said the PML (N) Government respects mandate of all parties to put the country on the path to progress and prosperity through collective efforts.
He said the country was facing challenges like terrorism and extremism but it is encouraging that we are moving forward in a civilized manner.
Replying to a question‚ he said the Government is not oblivious of the security and law and order challenges including the Karachi situation.
He said the Federal and Provincial Governments have already started discussions on formulation of a strategy envisaging setting up counter terrorism force and better policing to fight the menace of crimes.
About Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak the prime minister said protection of jails was the responsibility of the provincial governments; however, federal government was ready to extent all possible cooperation to curb such acts.
To a question about loadshedding, he said it was a chronic problem and could not be ended in days.
“We have paid the circular debt that should have been paid by the previous government and shortfall has been reduced to 3,000 MW.
“We will have to change our past attitude of indifference and lethargy and plan our future for the next 25 years,” he said.
Earlier‚ Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif reached Karachi on a day long visit.
He was received at the airport by Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid were accompanying the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The Prime Minister visited the Quaid s mausoleum and offered Fateha.
