PM Shehbaz Sharif keen to work with China to diversify power production

ISLAMABAD, Jul. 8 (Gwadar Pro)- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday afternoon evinced keen interest in working with China to generate electricity through alternative sources of energy including hydel, solar, and wind.

The PM expressed determination to utilize in every possible way available resources for generating solar energy to save the precious foreign exchange reserves being spent on the import of oil and gas for the generation of expensive thermal power.

He was talking to a delegation of China Three Gorges International (CTGI), Kohala Hydro Power Project and Karot Hydro Power Project, led by Charge d' Affairs of the Chinese embassy Pang Chunxue.

During the meeting, the PM maintained that his government was determined for the solarization of Pakistan.

The prime minister thanked CTGI for the timely completion of Karot Hydro Power Project and the provision of free electricity to Pakistan before the start of the commercial operation of the project.

He asked CTGI to present a comprehensive technical, financial and economic plan after Eid – to be celebrated on Sunday - to generate at least 7000-8000 megawatts.

Later, CTGI delegation requested the extension of time for Letter of Support for securing investment from Sinosure China for the completion of Kohala Hydropower Project.

The Prime Minister directed the relevant officials to issue a new Letter of Support till July 20 and ordered them to remove all obstacles as soon as possible in the completion of Kohala Hydro Power Project.

The member of ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Zafaruddin Mehmood and other officials concerned attended the meeting.