BAHAWALPUR, Aug 4: The chief minister will fly to Cholistan from Lahore in a few days to inaugurate a solar project. The 5,000 acre project site will also see Chinese guests, who are undertaking the project.

Interestingly, the project site hosted German guests in February last who had announced launching a similar solar project there.

As the government circles are avoiding mentioning the German company, Energiequelle, the situation puts a question mark on the authenticity of such project inauguration.

Mr Sharif is expected to inaugurate the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park, funded by TBEA, a Chinese company, at Dingarh, located in Cholistan near Yazman, 30 kilometers from Bahawalpur.

The solar project, according to the government, to be set up on 5,000 acres will produce 1,000 MW. The provincial energy secretary and the chief executive officer of the Chinese company signed an agreement in Lahore last week.

This would be the second time inauguration of the project here in Cholistan.

Earlier, Mr Sharif’s outgoing government in February had signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with German company Energiequelle and Austrian firm Andritz Hydro for cooperation in the energy sector.

Later, in pursuance of the MoUs, a groundbreaking ceremony was also performed by PML-N MPA Zaeem Qadri in Cholistan as Mr Sharif could not arrive for some reasons. On the occasion, German firm’s representative and the PML-N MNA Saood Majid Chaudhry were also present. The officials had stated that the German firm would also be allocated 2,500 acres more near Marot in Cholistan in Fortabbas for setting up another solar energy project there.

Later on, no follow up of the project seen.

Dawn learnt that a team of representatives and engineers of the Chinese firm had visited the site a few days back and reportedly had went round the Dingarh’s land specified for the purpose.