Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while expressing deep concern over the long delay in the Neelum-Jehlum Hydro Power Project asked the Ministry of Water and Power and Wapda to workout the financial plan in consultation with the Ministry of Finance so that it can be expedited.
He directed for immediate finalisation of the financial plan of the project after consultation with all stakeholders so that the project is completed on schedule. The prime minister directed that to remove the bottlenecks in the country's mega Hydel Power projects, the Energy Committee headed by the Finance Minister must meet fortnightly.
The prime minister also asked the Energy Committee to prepare a two years work plan for the power projects. The prime minister gave the above directions while chairing a high level meeting to review progress on mega power projects at PM House here Tuesday.
The prime minister observed that mismanagement must be checked to improve the efficiency of these projects as they are the lifeline of Pakistan's economy. He further said that it is the strong resolve of the government to complete the projects already in the pipeline so that their benefits could start reaching the people as soon as possible.
He said that keeping in view the escalating cost of thermal power projects, the only viable way is to start hydel power projects that would provide relief to the public at large. It is in line with these objectives that he had inaugurated the Diamer-Basha Dam recently, he said.
He directed that Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs be included in the energy Committee to increase the level of co-ordination for the hydel projects in AJ&K and Gilgit-Baltistan. The prime minister expressed dissatisfaction on the delay in executing the Kohala Hydropower Project of 1100 MW generation capacity and directed that it should be expedited and pre-project procedure could be completed by the end of this year.
He expressed satisfaction over the recent talks between the experts of Pakistan and India on establishing back to back electricity grid between the two countries. He said that provided the modalities are appropriately worked out between the two counties, the proposed grid could contribute towards reducing the power shortage in both the countries in their long term usage. The Prime Minister said that he is expected to meet the Indian Prime Minister on the sideline of the SAARC Conference in Maldives scheduled this month where he would also take up this mutually beneficial project with his counterpart.-PR