Chief Minister Shehbaz OKs projects to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Gwadar, GB

• The Prime Minister approves the implementation of the plan to solve power supply problems.
• All relevant agencies should work in full coordination: PM.
• Gwadar will be turned into one of the world’s best ports, says PM.
  

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved power projects for Gilgit Baltistan and Gwadar, including a 100 MW solar project in GB to ensure uninterrupted, affordable and sustainable power supply.

Chairing a meeting on power initiatives in Gwadar and Britain, the prime minister approved the immediate implementation of a comprehensive plan to resolve power supply issues in Gwadar Port City.

“All relevant institutions should work in full coordination to ensure uninterrupted, affordable and reliable power supply in Gwadar City,” said Chief Minister Shehbaz.

Issuing special instructions for the immediate start of the 100 megawatt solar project in Great Britain, the Prime Minister also called that the project should ensure uninterrupted and sustainable supply of clean and environment-friendly electricity.

“Uninterrupted power supply to Gwadar will definitely boost national economic activity and investment,” the prime minister said.

He also emphasized that electricity supply for industries and investors in Pakistan should meet regional and international standards.

He added that uninterrupted power supply and other facilities will make Gwadar port one of the best ports in the world and a future hub of economic activities.

Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, while briefing the meeting, said that due to the immediate actions of the ministry, power outages in Gwadar have already reduced by 42%.

After resolving the outage, a comprehensive plan has also been drawn up to stabilize the voltage of electricity supply in Gwadar within the next six months, the minister said adding that effective and productive steps are being taken to ensure electricity supply to residential and commercial consumers in Gwadar.

Among the short-term projects, 9.7 megawatts of solar power will be installed at major government institutions in the next eight to 12 months, while in the long-term projects for Gwadar, a 40-megawatt project will be installed to ensure sustainable power supply.

The meeting was informed that due to continued industrial and economic development, expansion of Gwadar port and growth in urban areas, electricity demand in Gwadar was expected to increase by 30% in the coming years.

The 100 MW solar project in Gilgit-Baltistan consists of two components: an 18 MW rooftop solar project and an 82 MW scale solar project.

The rooftop and Gilgit Baltistan solar projects will be completed by 2027, the briefing said, adding that the joint projects between the British government and the Ministry of Energy will save the government Rs 1 billion annually.

The UK government will ensure timely provision of land, communications, infrastructure and other facilities for the power projects, the briefing added.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervez Malik and other relevant government officials.