Our performance will wash away opposition’s “baseless” allegations: Prime Minister Nawaz

“They are not impeding or attempting to foil me. They are attempting to obstruct the country’s progress. We will not allow them to affect our pace. People will distinguish between the negative and corrupt elements and those, who delivered,” he said addressing the inauguration ceremony of the first unit of Sahiwal Coal Power Project.

The prime minister was accompanied by Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali. Ambassador of China in Pakistan Sun Weidong was also present on the occasion.

With total capacity of 1320 megawatt, the project comprises two coal-based power plants of 660MW each. This is one of the early harvest projects of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

It has been completed in a record 22 months period, six months ahead of the prescribed schedule.

Executed by M/s Huaneng Shandong Ruyi Pakistan Energy Private Limited, the first unit has already been connected to the national grid since May 12 this year while the second unit will be connected during the current month.

The prime minister also visited the control room and different sections of the power plant wherein the Chinese engineers briefed him about the functioning of the plant.

Nawaz Sharif told the charged gathering that he had no time to respond the unfounded accusations of the opposition rather left it up to the people to decide as all of his focus would be on the people’s uplift.

“Now, work (on the development projects) has started and it will not stop,” the prime minister expressed his resolve amid the slogans of `dekho dekho kon aya, sher aya, sher aya’ raised by the crowd.

He said the government had planned to allocate a record budget for development works in next fiscal year as the people would listen to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar delivering the annual budget speech in the National Assembly on Friday.

Lauding the successful execution of the power project in just 22 months, he said it was unprecedented in the country’s history, as usually even the coal shed (a component of the project) took more than two years to complete.

This is Punjab speed. This is the PML-N speed. Hats off to you Shahbaz Sharif! You called me hero, you are hero yourself,” the prime minister remarked highly acknowledging the services of Punjab chief minister and his team.

On the chief minster’s recommendation, the prime minister also announced a one month bonus salary to all of the Chinese and Pakistani workers, who had been part of the project.

Article source: http://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/54386-prime-minister-nawaz-to-inaugurate-first-unit-of-sahiwal-coal-power-project-today.html