He said this while addressing a special function held at the completion of 1320-megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Plant in Sahiwal today, according to a handout issued here on Monday.
The project had broken not only world record but also that of China by completion in minimum period of time, he said and added the project which Pakistan and Chinese leadership dreamt of in 2013-14 had achieved its first milestone in shape of Sahiwal Coal Power Plant today.
The Sahiwal Coal Power Project was the first mega initiative of CPEC which had been playing a wonderful role in strengthening of the national economy, he said. The project which had been completed with a cost of Rs 180 billion was signed in April 2015. It was agreed upon that this project would be completed on December 25, 2017, however, this project had been completed seven months earlier, the CM said. The chief minister said today was not an occasion of joy but a historic day as well. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, work on different projects of CPEC, including energy, was in progress very rapidly.
"I am personally eyewitness that the sit-in organizers were requested upon that the President of our most trustworthy friendly country China is coming to Pakistan, so therefore, you may leave this place for some days. Political as well as military leadership tried their level best in this regard, but the sit-in organizes stick to their guns and refused to leave the place. The sit-in organizers, in fact, wanted to put the future of Pakistan at stake and the visit of Chinese President to Pakistan was postponed," he said. He said the Chinese President and administrator of National Energy Administration Mr Nur Bekri visited Pakistan to remove darkness. The Chinese President, Prime Minister and other leadership had full trust over the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and they also tremendously loved the people of Pakistan. China supported Pakistan at a time when the country was plunged into darkness, economy was sagging and the business was ruined. Chinese leadership handed over projects of hard earned money of their people worth 60 billion dollars to Pakistan and this nation will never forget this great benevolence.
He said completion of Sahiwal Coal Power Project in 22 months would give benefit of billions of dollars in coming days. The 300-megawatt solar power project in Bahawalpur was providing electricity to the national grid. Similarly, a coal power plant was being set up in Port Qasim as well.
The chief minister said Pakistan would continue to progress whether its Panama or Benama. Pakistan would continue to move further under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The projects were being completed despite sit-ins and lockdown. The country had moved towards it destination and the people would not let this destination gone astray. The people had failed sit-ins and lockdown in the past and will do the same now and the journey of development and prosperity of the country will be moved further, he said. The chief minister said past governments weakened the country with their corruption and nepotism in energy and reconstruction projects. The cost of Rs 80 billion worth Neelam Jhelum Project had soared to Rs 500 billion. This project will produce 985-megawatt electricity while Rs 180 billion worth Sahiwal Coal Power Project was producing 1320-megawatt electricity.
He said light had spread everywhere today under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and added that people were in search of these lights.
The CM said Sahiwal Coal Power Project was also a gift to the nation. The friendship of Pakistan and China was unique. This friendship was based on love and affection and added China supported Pakistan in the wars of 1965 and 1971 without any compulsion and always supported the Kashmir issue at the UN.
He said China had initiated CPEC with Pakistan without any compulsion and proved its friendship. The CPEC was too much pinching the enemy and a lot of enemies of this project had emerged. But the enemies must listen that Pakistan was an atomic power and enemies could not let us down. The people would destroy the enemy which would dare to put evil eye on Pakistan.
He said Pakistan would achieve development and prosperity by following principles of prosperity through hardwork, trust and honesty. The Chinese leadership had realized that Pakistanis are a great nation, he added.
The chief minister thanked Chinese leadership, including President, Prime Minister, administrator of National Energy Administration Nur Bekri, NDRC, ICBC, Huaneng Group, Ruyi Group and other concerned officials for completion of 1320-megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Project.
Vice Chairman of NDRC and administrator of National Energy Administration Nur Bekri, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, Chairman Huaneng Group of China Cao Peixi, Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary and notables of the area were also present.
Earlier, Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif inspected different sections of 1320-megawatt Sahiwal Coal Power Project.