Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has worked round the clock on energy projects during last two years. He said that the sincere efforts made for the implementation of power projects by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are unprecedented in the history of the country.
He said that a conspiracy was hatched in the form of a sit-in last year to undermine the efforts of the government in this regard but the time has passed now and progress is being made on power projects with a new spirit and determination. The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference, here on Wednesday. He said that he considers himself Khadim of the masses and service to the people is his mission. He said that the efforts for the implementation of power projects under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will continue till complete elimination of darkness from the country.
He said that NEPRA which is a constitutional institution of federal government fixes the rate of electricity generated from different sources and it fixed the tariff of energy produced by solar project at 16.3 cent in 2014 but despite passage of one and a half years, no solar plant has been set up so far.
He said that German consultant prepared a feasibility report, after which, tenders were floated and bids were invited. He said that the highest bid was two million dollar per megawatt while the lowest was 1.51 million dollar per megawatt. He said that though Nepra rules do not allow negotiations with the lowest bidder but still dialogues were held with the company and about 20 million dollar which are approximately two billion rupees were saved and he remained successful in getting the lowest rate for one hundred megawatt solar power project. He said that this has provided a new bench mark for NEPRA on the basis of which it reduced power tariff and announced the tariff of 14.1 cent in January 2015.
He said that 35 thousands megawatt electricity is generated from solar power in China, 35 thousand megawatt in Germany and 4500 megawatt in India. He said that Punjab government has completed 100 megawatt solar project transparently but some elements are criticizing it. He said that Punjab government has saved 18 billion rupees of national exchequer by holding successful dialogues with lowest bidders in various projects during seven years and today these facts are being presented before the media. Slides of 18 billion rupees were also shown with regard to the cost of solar project but 13.5 billion rupees were spent on this project. Shahbaz Sharif said that we do not need any appreciation but the efforts being made under the guidance of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will continue. He said that not a penny has been saved in any project whether it is wind energy project or oil energy project like we have achieved in solar project. He said that this is the first project of Pakistan in which 2.5 cents were saved. He said that 3600 megawatt gas-based energy projects will be set up in Punjab, of which, two projects of 1200 megawatt will be set up by federal government while Punjab government will set up a project of 1200 megawatt from its own resources. He said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will himself disclose how many savings were made in these projects.
He said that a human can commit mistake but at a time when serious efforts are being made for bringing the country and the nation out of darkness, sit-ins are again being staged. He asked media to make positive criticism and we will accept it openly and take guidance but criticism for the sake of criticism creates misunderstandings. He said that we all should be united on transparency, honesty and hard work.
He said that work will have to be carried out round the clock for ridding the nation of darkness. He said that if anyone has committed any mistake or corruption intentionally, he should be taken to task. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister held a meeting the other day regarding Nandipur Power Project and took timely decisions. He said that whatever happened with this project before we came into power, Supreme Court has taken its notice. He said that the machinery of this project remained lying at Karachi Port for three years in previous tenure due to Babar Awan and this project was buried and ruthless plundering was committed in this project. The Chief Minister said that he cannot order NAB as it is a federal department, however, he had reminded NAB to take strict notice of the plundering in the Nandipur Power Project.
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