Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved electricity projects for Gilgit Baltistan and Gwadar, including a 100MW solar project in GB to ensure interrupted, affordable, and sustainable power supply. Chairing a meeting on power sector initiatives in Gwadar and GB, the prime minister approved the immediate implementation of a comprehensive plan to resolve issues in the power supply to Gwadar Port City. “All relevant institutions should work in complete coordination to ensure uninterrupted, affordable, and reliable power supply to Gwadar Port City,” said PM Shehbaz. Issuing special directions for the immediate initiation of the 100-megawatt solar project in GB, the prime minister also directed that the project must ensure uninterrupted and sustainable provision of clean and environmentally friendly electricity. “Uninterrupted electricity supply in Gwadar will certainly enhance national economic activity and investment,” the prime minister said. He also emphasised that electricity supply for industries and investors in Pakistan should meet regional and international standards. He added that uninterrupted power and other facilities will transform Gwadar Port into one of the world’s best ports and a future hub of economic activities. Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, briefing the meeting, said that due to the ministry’s prompt actions, power supply disruptions in Gwadar had already been reduced by 42%. After resolving outages, a comprehensive plan has also been prepared to stabilise the voltage of supplied electricity in Gwadar within the next six months, the minister said adding that effective and productive steps were being taken to ensure electricity supply to domestic and commercial consumers in Gwadar. Among short-term projects, 9.7 megawatts of solar capacity will be installed in major government institutions within the next eight to 12 months, while in the long-term projects for Gwadar, a 40-megawatt project will be installed to ensure sustainable power supply. The meeting was informed that due to ongoing industrial and economic development, expansion of Gwadar Port, and growth in urban areas, electricity demand in Gwadar was expected to increase by 30% in the coming years. The 100-megawatt solar project in Gilgit-Baltistan consists of two components: an 18-megawatt rooftop solar programme and an 82-megawatt utility-scale solar project. The rooftop and utility-scale solar projects in Gilgit Baltistan will be completed by 2027, the briefing said adding that joint projects between the GB government and the Ministry of Energy will save the government Rs1 billion annually. The GB government will ensure timely provision of land, communications, infrastructure, and other facilities for the electricity projects, the briefing added. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik, and other relevant government officials.
PM Shehbaz okays projects to ensure uninterrupted power for Gwadar, GB
