CPEC will lighten up Pakistan: Power Minister

Faisalabad: Pakistani Federal Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will lighten up Pakistan as he inaugurated the 220-KV Lalian grid station, completed with Pakistani Rs 4 billion

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of 220-KV Lalian grid station here, he maintained that all development projects under CPEC and government initiatives were being revived.

He said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, made concerted efforts and he not only overcame shortage of electricity but also restored peace in the country. “Nawaz Sharif also initiated a new chapter in the progress of Pakistan by introducing CPEC,” the minister mentioned .

Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will proceed to China on November 1 (today) and the government would restart work on different projects under CPEC with a renewed commitment and zeal.

The minister highlighted that work on 775-megawatt Karot hydro electric power project had already been started while work on 1,320MW Shanghai Thar coal project would be initiated very soon. He said that the coalition government’s mission was to put Pakistan on road to progress and prosperity.

The minister contended that National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) had finalised different projects in all provinces with an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 billion.

“We will inaugurate some of these projects while work on the remaining projects would also be started during this year,” he promised.

Later, the minister also went to Jhang Road near Churagh Abad Interchange where he inaugurated another project of 500-KV Painsara grid station, which was completed with an estimated cost of Rs 16.9 billion.

He said that these projects would help overcome problems of low voltage in the area. These projects would also enable Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) to provide new electricity connections without any delay.

Managing Director NTDC Engineer Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan informed that the grid station projects would not only strengthen the transmission network of NTDC in the region but also help tackle increasing demand of electricity of domestic, industrial, commercial and agri consumers of Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh, Samundari, Gojra, Jaranwala, Chenab Nagar, Chiniot Industrial, Sargodha, Ludewala, Narwala Road, Thikriwala, Lalian and their peripheral localities.

A large number of area notables and FESCO officers including its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Bashir Ahmad were also present.