The parliamentary committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was briefed about 14 early harvest energy projects which would be completed in March 2018 and would be in a position to generate 10,400 megawatts of electricity.
The committee met on Wednesday in the Parliament House with its chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, in chair. It was briefed on energy related projects related to CPEC by the Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif and the ministry’s secretary, Younas Dhaga.
It was informed that “two transmission lines would be built from Matiari to Lahore with a length of 880 km, which will transmit 4,000 MW of electricity”.
The committee was apprised that for the first time the government has initiated a project to upgrade and modernise transmission lines.
The parliamentary committee appreciated efforts being made for achievement of CPEC through implementation of decisions unanimously arrived at the All Parties Conference convened on May 28 at the PM House.
It expressed concerns on allowing import of coal for coal-run power projects and hoped that coal will also be mined indigenously, especially from Thar and other coal mining areas, so that dependence on imported coal is shed.
The committee also directed the Ministry of Water and Power to do a mapping survey of the wind corridor in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so that a conducive environment is created for investors keen on investing in renewable energy in both these provinces.
It expressed satisfaction at the fact that its proposal for a dual carriage of the Western route, which they decided on October 26, had been accepted at the last week’s Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting held between China and Pakistan in Karachi.
Senator Mushahid Hussain told the media the Parliamentary Committee would visit Gwadar on November 28-29 for a comprehensive briefing on the Gwadar port and its related projects pertaining to the CPEC.
The members of CPEC committee would be traveling from the starting point of the western route from Gwadar to Ratto Dero, a strip of 670 km to inspect the route.
The chairman of the parliamentary committee also directed the power ministry to resolve the issues of land acquisition pertaining to the Sukki Kenari power project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The members who attended the meeting include Akram Khan Durrani, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Talha Mehmood, Hasil Bizenjo, Fateh Mohammad Hasni, Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar, Qadir Baloch, Baz Mohammad Khan, Rana Afzal, and other officials.
Courtesy: Dawn News