The law and order situation in Karachi has improved and cases of extortion and kidnappings for ransom have significantly reduced. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday after inaugurating the country's first 100MW solar power plant in Bahawalpur. He said that it was his government's priority to eliminate terrorism and to restore law and order in Karachi, the country's largest city and economic hub. He claimed that the militancy-hit areas had now been cleansed of terrorism. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also inaugurated a commemorative stamp issued by the Pakistan Post.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Acting Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong were also present on the occasion besides a number of Federal and provincial ministers. In the first phase, at least 0.5 million solar panels have been installed in three blocks over 500 acres of the solar park land. Earlier, the infrastructure of the park, including a boundary wall, buildings and roads, were constructed while water was taken to the site from a nearby canal. The construction work of the first phase of 100MW began last year. The second and third units of the solar park comprise 300MW and 600MW, respectively. The work on these two units was inaugurated last month in Islamabad by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The second phase is expected to be completed in the beginning of the next year followed by work on the third phase.