US $ 1.6 billion HVDC Transmission Line Project on priority list of CPEC projects: Sindh CM

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that US $ 1.6 billion Matiari-Lahore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Line Project – having designed capacity of 4000 Megawatts and line length of 878 kilometers – was one of the most important energy projects in Pakistan and was on priority list of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

The Chief Minister was presiding over a cabinet meeting here at CM’s House. The Energy Department told the meeting that the HVDC Transmission Line Project was being taken as top priority.

The project was started on December 01, 2018 and the Commercial Operations date (COD) was achieved on September 01, 2021 having a Project Cost of US $ 1.6 billion.

A portion of the Transmission Line is passing through the territory of Sindh, therefore the cabinet approved giving it right of way.

The cabinet approved an amount of Pakistani Rs 91,5230,000 to provide compensation for the shops of Cooperative Market and Victoria Center which were reduced to ashes in a fire that erupted on November 14, 2021. The cabinet expressed solidarity with the shopkeepers and said that with the payment of compensation they would be able to start their business afresh.

It was proposed to the Industries Department to talk to the shopkeepers to convince them to ensure their shops because the fire eruption cases have been taking place in markets.

The cabinet also directed the Chief Secretary to implement the decisions of the Supreme Court in respect of Karachi Port Trust Housing Society.

The cabinet directed senior member board of Revenue to protect the lands of the Malir Expressway so that no encroacher could dare to grab them.