Government working on mega projects of public welfare: Punjab chief minister

[Salman]

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government is working speedily on mega projects of public welfare and energy projects. He said the transparency, standard and speed are the hallmark of all uplift projects. He said the foundation stone of Ruyi Masood Textile Industrial Park in Faisalabad is being laid on May 28 while foundation stone of two coal-based power projects of 660 megawatts each in Sahiwal, to be executed with cooperation of China, will be laid on May 30.

Similarly, he said, Nandipur power project will be inaugurated on May 31 where 100 megawatts electricity will be produced in the first phase.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting here on Sunday which reviewed mega projects of public welfare. Provincial Minister for Industry Muhammad Shafiq, Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, Special Assistant Azmul Haq and officials concerned were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state-of-the-art industrial park to be set up in Faisalabad with the cooperation of a prominent Chinese group, Ruyi, is of key importance for the development of textile and garments sectors. He said that this project will generate job opportunities while a substantial increase will also be made in the export of textile products. He said the Chinese group will also establish two coal-based power plants of 150 megawatts in the industrial park. He said that the Chinese group is making investment of billions of dollars in the Ruyi Masood Industrial Park, spread over an area of more than 1000 acres. He further said that most modern coal power plants will be set up in Qadirabad area of Sahiwal and an agreement has already be signed with a consortium of prominent Chinese companies in this regard. He said that it is the first coal-based project of power generation and will be completed speedily and transparently while a high standard of construction will also be maintained.

He said the project will produce 1320 megawatts electricity. He said that production of 100 megawatts of electricity from Nandipur project within a record period of seven months is a result of excellent team work. He said the first turbine of Nandipur power project will start production on May 31. Shahbaz Sharif said that Nandipur power project remained pending for three years due to criminal negligence of former rulers while its machinery kept rusting at Karachi port. However, he said, after coming into power, PML-N government paid attention to this project of national importance and persuaded the Chinese company to resume work.

He said that the work on this project was restarted in September 2013 and it has been completed within a record period of seven months due to honesty, hard work and commitment.

The Chief Minister further said that rapid progress is being made under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif towards solution of energy crisis and power generation projects are being completed speedily. He said that no effort will be spared in the early execution of energy projects and cooperation of China and other friendly countries in this regard is commendable.

The Chief Minister appreciated the performance of Project Director Cap Mehmood (Retd), engineers and staff of the Chinese company as well as Pakistani team regarding completion of Nandipur power project within a record period of seven months and said that it is a big achievement. A detailed briefing was given to the meeting on various mega projects.