Govt vows to complete CPEC projects by 2017

[Salman]

Govt vows to complete CPEC projects by 2017

ISLAMABAD: Punjab government directed the authorities concerned to complete the energy projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects by 2017 positively.
The Steering Committee on energy projects meeting under CPEC with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Prof Ahsan Iqbal in chair reviewed and discussed in detail feasibility studies of energy projects under CPEC, demand and supply framework of ongoing and new projects, integrated plan for generation, transmission and distribution, payment modalities of power purchase agreements, curtailing power losses and integrated coal logistics plan for coal power projects.
The meeting decided Steering Committee meeting would be held frequently to monitor the progress of energy projects under CPEC
Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal constituted a committee to expedite work on energy projects under CPEC on war-footing after the recent visit of high level delegation led by Chief Minister Punjab and Federal Minister for Planning to China.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said this economic corridor was a golden opportunity for Pakistan. He said, “It is now or never. We have to accept the challenge and pounce on this opportunity. History will never forgive us if we failed to do so.”
He said everyone including politicians, bureaucrats and technocrats should come together for betterment of Pakistan and bring this country out of darkness. He shared with the committee in the last decade energy mix of Pakistan, which was tilted towards hydel energy, but unfortunately it was shifted to thermal energy, which damaged our economy in general, and energy sector in particular.
There is no point in crying over spilt milk now. We have to act and act fast, he remarked.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal shed light on the importance of Gadani Energy Park, which has been dedicated as Pak-China Energy Park, which would be country’s biggest energy projects with 6,600 megawatts capacity. He constituted a working group comprising representatives from Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Ministry of Water and Power, Pakistan Railways and Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform to address the issues related to transportation of coal.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif informed the committee his Ministry was working on strict timelines and ensuring transparency and timely completion at all costs in projects.
Progress on different energy projects under CPEC such as coal-based power projects at Gadani, Jetty plus infrastructure at Gadani, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Park, Rail Projects (ML-I) anfd coal based power projects at Port Qasim were discussed.
Secretary Planning Hasan Nawaz Tarar, Secretary Water and Power Nargis Sethi and representatives attended the meeting of Steering Committee.