Islamabad:
Pakistan has prepared a 25-year plan to build a capacity to generate 50,000 MW of electricity to end an energy crisis, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said.
The plan includes construction of coal-based plants that can produce 5,200 MW and gas-powered units will be set up to meet growing energy needs, Sharif said.
The premier said 6170 MW is now available on the national grid, the highest in the country's history. However' the shortfall still stands at 3,000 MW, with the daily demand reaching 19,000 MW.
The 950-MW Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir will be operational in the next 24 to 30 months, he said.
Sharif was addressing a gathering after visiting the site of the proposed Rs 60 billion Pakistan Power Park at Gadani, a small seafront town on the Arabian sea, about 50 km south of Karachi.
During his visit on Wednesday, Sharif was informed that eight power generation projects, each of 660 MW, will be set up in the park.
However, Sharif directed officials to set up 10 projects to generate 6600 MW.
Sharif informed the gathering that China has shown interest in setting up four power generation projects in the park.
He said the project would help generate employment opportunities for the people of Sindh and Balochistan provinces. He also said that a similar power park needs to be set up in Thar to utilise the region's huge coal reserves.
Discussing his plans to improve the economic situation, Sharif said the proposed six-lane Karachi-to-Lahore Motorway will ensure swift and cheap transportation of goods.
Referring to the Kashgar-Gwadar trade corridor, he said small industrial zones will be set up along its route to attract investment from China as the cost of production in Pakistan is still low.
