HUB: Minister for Plan­ning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday said that the energy crisis in the country was going to end soon due to the effective and fast-track measures taken by the government.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of two 660-megawatt coal-fired power plants of the China Power Hub Generation Company Limited, he said China had proved Pakistan was a safe destination for investment.

The minister said that with $2 billion, two coal-fired power plants of 660MW each would be completed in two years. These projects would be equipped with the latest technology to generate electricity at a low cost, he added.

Mr Iqbal stressed that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not against anyone, adding that everyone could benefit from the project with the generation of employment opportunities.

Pakistan today was different from that of 2013, when the present government came to power, he asserted. At that time, the biggest challenge was to overcome the energy crisis and for that purpose $35bn was allocated, said Mr Iqbal.

The minister said development was not possible without overcoming the energy problem as the industry needed sufficient energy.

In 2013, when Pakistan was facing various challenges, the Chinese government assisted the country to help overcome these challenges. “We are really grateful for such a friendly gesture by the Chinese,” he remarked.

The minister said the economy was progressing fast and the problem of terrorism had been overcome to a great extent, adding that the energy crisis would be resolved soon as well.

He said the day was not far when basic facilities like roads, education and health facilities would be available to people in the rural areas of Balochistan.

The Gwadar International Airport, 9th Expressway and clean drinking water project would be inaugurated this year, said Mr Iqbal.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Khalid Mansoor, and Balochistan Chief Secretary Shoaib Mir said it was an important day for the people of the province as about 10,000 employment opportunities would be created with the generation of the plants.

The Consul General of China, Wang Yu, also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2017