SIALKOT: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar inaugurated on Monday the Head Marala Hydro Power Project near Head Marala-Sialkot.

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government was trying to curb the inherited energy crisis by focusing on promotion of wind and solar energy means.

Provincial Energy Minister Punjab Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Malik briefed the participants about the Head Marala Power Project. He said the hydro power project was established at the Upper Chenab Canal near Head Marala Barrage over the River Chenab with a cost of Rs3.98 billion by Chinese engineers.

He said previous governments did nothing to end the energy crisis, which badly affected both the industrial sector and the economy. He said that it was the need of the hour that Diamir-Basha dam be constructed on a priority to avert the looming water crisis.

Provincial Energy Secretary Aamir Jaan said the plant has the capacity of producing 7.64 megawatts with four turbines of 1.9 megawatts each, made functional after successful tests by Pakistani and Chinese engineers.

This plant has been linked with the national grid through a 1.5 kilometre 11,000 kilowatts transmission line. The plant will produce 50.3 million units annually.

Mr Buzdar announced the early repair of Sialkot-Head Marala Road and Sialkot-Pasrur Road. He added the establishment of a special economic zone along Sialkot-Lahore Motorway would bring about an industrial revolution in Punjab.

Provincial Minister for Special Education Muhammad Ikhlaq, Sialkot International Airport Limited Chairman Nadeem Anwar Qureshi, Prime Minister’s Youth Development Programme Chairman Usman Dar, PTI Central Punjab President Umer Dar, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Gujranwala Commissioner Asadullah Faiz and Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Tahir Wattoo were present.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2018