LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said terrorists have committed cruelty against children and the entire nation was in a state of shock over this worst kind of terrorism.

“Those who committed barbarity against innocent children are beasts and deserve exemplary punishment,” he said during a meeting with a Chinese delegation.

Chinese energy company President Yu Yong and members of his delegation condemned the attack in a school in Peshawar and expressed sorrow and grief over the killing of children, teachers and soldiers.

They said like Pakistan, Chinese people were also shocked over the tragic incident and the people of China equally shared the grief of Pakistanis.

Discussing energy projects, the meeting agreed on speedy progress of the 900MW project at Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur.

The chief minister said the government was focusing towards nontraditional sources for generating energy. He said the Punjab government was executing a 100MW project at the Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park from its own resources that would start generating energy in the beginning of next year.

He also said the energy generating projects were being completed speedily and transparently. He said import duty on solar equipment and panels had been abolished for facilitating investors.

He said early completion of energy projects was one of the top priorities of the government. He further said the 900MW project in Bahawalpur would be completed speedily and the Punjab government would extend all-out cooperation to the Chinese company.

Shahbaz said all necessary steps, including provision of infrastructure, had been completed for the 900MW project. He also presided over a meeting that considered proposals regarding provision of a solar home solution at concessionary rates to low-income families and off-grid solar solution in to the public sector.

Published in Dawn December 21th , 2014