CHASHMA (Mianwali): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday said the government would end power load-shedding in the country by the end of this year, and complete the ongoing power projects by next June.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the ‘C-4’, the Prime Minister said his government would add 10,000MW to the national grid by end of its term.
He said ‘C-4’ was a step forward for the PAEC in achieving its target of adding 8800MW to the national grid by the year 2020.
The Prime Minister said his government would achieve the target, given by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the PAEC.
He said the C-4 project started injecting power into the national grid only after a period of eight months since the operationalisation of C-3, and termed it a matter of pride for the entire nation. The three power units of Chasma were providing 900MW of less expensive electricity, he added.
He said “The power supply situation today is much better in the country as compared to what it was a few years back.”
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi recalled that the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was in power when Pakistan entered into an agreement with China for construction of Chasma’s Unit One project and termed it the foundation of a strong Pakistan-China cooperation in civil
nuclear power projects.
He said Pakistan has put in place a reliable nuclear power project and it is being ensured that all these projects fully comply with the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). All future nuclear power plants are also being constructed under the same guidelines, he added.
He said three nuclear power projects were already operational and were providing less expensive electricity.
He pointed that it was a matter of satisfaction that K-2 and K-3 power plants in Karachi are being completed at a fast pace, and would provide less expensive and clean energy.
He said Pakistan has been indigenously operating the plants under the Karachi Nuclear Power Project for four decades without any foreign assistance.
The Prime Minister lauded the contributions of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in power generation, health and agriculture. He said Pakistan earned precious foreign exchange through cotton crop, while 18 cancer hospitals were providing quality healthcare to people.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also appreciated the cooperation of China in civil nuclear power generation projects and urged the Chinese companies to invest more in nuclear power projects.
“Our government has initiated large projects with China under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and its benefits are causing a trickle-down effect,” he added.
He said progress is visible on projects of roads, Thar coal and Gwadar, while GDP has risen to over 5 per cent and hoped it would be 6 percent next year.
The government, he said, is desirous of greater participation of the private sector in the CPEC projects. He said the Chinese government has also showed its keen interest in injecting more funds in to various projects.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi thanked the Government of China, EXIM Bank of China and China Atomic Energy Commission for their support in making Pakistan self-sufficient in electricity.
The event was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Chairman PAEC Mohammad Naeem, Chinese ambassador Sun We Dong, DG SPD Lt Gen Mazhar Naveed and Member
Power PAEC Syed Yousaf Raza, representatives of the
Chinese companies and senior officials.—APP
