Punjab CM approves solar park on 11,000 acres in Bahawalpur Punjab Energy Council

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that besides traditional methods of production of electricity, work is in progress on the projects of power generation from alternative resources.

He was presiding over a meeting of the Punjab Energy Council which gave approval to setting up of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park at Lal Sohanra and Din Garh in Bahawalpur on Tuesday.

In the first phase, construction of the solar park at Lal Sohanra over 11,000 acres would start immediately and residential colony, park, dispensary, school, mosque and other basic amenities would be set up there.

Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz said the Punjab government would take a lead in the completion of solar energy projects. He said achievement of the target of production of solar energy at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park from the beginning of next year would be ensured. Demarcation had been completed for establishing Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park at Lal Sohanra Park and Cholistan and all-out resources would be provided for the completion of the energy projects, he added.

The CM directed the authorities that the work should be undertaken on emergent basis on 100 megawatt solar energy project and production of electricity should start from the beginning of next year at any cost.

He said that projects of generation of further 400 megawatt power should be completed within six months and complete design of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park and residential colony be submitted in the next meeting. He said that the bank concerned should present financial model of the energy projects.

The chief minister said Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Company had been fully authorized to complete solar park project expeditiously. He said that no delay would be tolerated in the completion of the projects, adding that speedy completion of development projects and transparency were the hallmark of the Punjab government. He said that like other development projects, energy projects would also be executed expeditiously in a transparent manner.

Shahbaz said the Punjab government would complete solar energy projects with its own resources. He directed the departments concerned that in the first phase, all necessary measures should be taken for completion of energy projects while the process of international bidding should start immediately.

He also directed them that besides ensuring standard, weather conditions should also be kept in view in the provision of infrastructure at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.

The Bahawalpur commissioner, secretaries of Communication & Works, Irrigation and Energy gave a briefing on the project while the meeting also gave approval to the project of water supply to the park from the canal.Provincial Ministers Ch. Sher Ali Khan, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Ch Muhammad Shafique, Dr Farrukh Javed, Special Assistant Arshad Jutt and others were present.