Shehbaz Invites Political Antagonists To Take Part In 2018 Polls,

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2017 ) : Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the politicians leveling allegations not to create hindrance in the journey of development and let the government to change fate of the masses as they were already facing numerous problems.

He stated this while speaking at the signing ceremony for setting up Solar Power Project of 100 megawatt at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur, a covenant between the Punjab government and renowned Turkish Energy Company Zorlu Enerji Holding, here at Model Town.

Secretary Energy Asad-ur-Rehman Gillani on behalf of the Punjab government and CEO Omer Yungul on behalf of Turkish company signed the agreement. Under the agreement, Turkish company will set up a 100 megawatt solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in the stipulated time of six months.

With a tariff rate of six cent per unit, this project will provide low-priced electricity to people. Provincial Ministers Dr. Ayehsa Ghaus Pasha, Chaudhry Sher Ali, Turkish Consul General Serdar Deniz, other members of Turkish delegation were present at the signing ceremony.

The Chief Minister said agreement between the Punjab government and Turkish company was a welcoming step and this mutual cooperation had made setup of this 100 megawatt Solar Power Plant conceivable.

"Zorlu Enerji Holding is a renowned Energy Company and we will absorb the best from its experiences and skill," he vowed. "Punjab with its own resources has already installed a 100MW Power Plant which is helping escalate electricity in National Grid," Shehbaz said.

The Chief Minister said the government was taking steps on emergent basis to overcome energy crisis under which agreements had been made for starting various power generating projects with the collaboration of national and international companies.

He said the targets of economic development could not be achieved without overcoming energy crisis and traditional as well as alternative sources were also being utilized for implementing power generation projects.

He stressed the need for setting up low-cost energy projects so that electricity could be provided to the people at cheaper rates. He said the Punjab government was making rapid progress in this direction and 3600MW lower-cost gas power plant had been established already which had made NEPRA bring its tariff down.

He said, "Opponents are involved in blame game rather than delivering as we all know that KPK has the capacity to generate electricity from cheaper source which is water but this source was never utilized." The Chief Minister said time had come that allegations, lies, hypocrisy and wrong statements should be avoided and work done for the welfare of the country.

The Chief Minister said election would be held in 2018 and asked antagonists to take part in these elections and accept decision of the people. He said the country was making rapid progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and no one should create hindrance in this journey of development.

He said China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries were assisting Pakistan to steer it out of crisis and they should not be misguided. Shehbaz Sharif said Panama case was in Supreme Court but the opponents were not stopping allegations and lies.

He said all development projects were being completed transparently under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said people were suffering due to long load-shedding during the tenure of past rulers but the PML-N government was working round the clock on energy projects.

He said the PML-N government was steering the people out of problems and moving them towards progress and prosperity and the entire nation was its witness. He said work was continuing on Dasu Dam and World Bank and Asian Development Bank were investing in the project through which 4,000 megawatt electricity would be generated.

Similarly, work of acquiring land with Rs. 65 billion for Bhasha Dam had been completed and this project would result in generation of 4500 megawatt electricity. "Both these projects will be completed with the cooperation of friendly countries," he added.

Shehbaz Sharif slammed Pervaiz Musharraf for looting national resources. He said those leveling allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif should peep into their conscience.

He said journey of steering Pakistan out of crisis would be continued with the cooperation of friendly countries. He said, "Turk Company will set up 100-megawatt solar power plant in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur for which we are thankful to President, Prime Minister and government of Turkey." Secretary Energy Asad Rehman Gillani apprised about agreement signed between Turk Company and the Punjab government and progress on energy projects.

Chief Executive Officer of Turk Company while speaking on the occasion said he was pleased to visit Pakistan and his company was setting up 100 megawatt solar power plant here. He expressed the hope that more projects would be established.

He promised that every effort would be made to complete this project before six months. Chairman Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Company Chaudhry Arif Saeed informed about 100 megawatt solar power plant set up by the Punjab government through its own resources.

Turk Consul General said the agreement signed between the Turk Company and Punjab government would result in enhancing economic cooperation between two countries. Consul General of Pakistan in Istanbul Dr.

Yousaf Junaid said there was a need of changing the existing friendly cooperation between the two countries into economic relations. He said it was the result of transparent policies of the Punjab government that foreign investment was increasing in the country. APP/zsd/zqr/rn � 22:36/22:50/22:50