BHAWALPUR: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park is yet another milestone in Pakistan and China’s all weather friendship, Express News reported.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the first unit of the 100 megawatt solar energy project in Bhawalpur, Shahbaz said the project was completed with the cooperation of China.
“The Solar Park is an investment made by China but much more than that it is China’s unwavering support lent to Pakistan,” he added.
The project was inducted into the national transmission grid as soon as it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today (May 5).
The first unit was completed at a cost of $131 million in one year.
The Punjab government had announced plans to establish the Qauid-e-Azam Solar Park over an area of 10,000 acres in Bahawalpur district. The Qauid-e-Azam Solar Park Company was then registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
According to an energy department official, the project was scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2014.
“However, it was delayed after the Chinese firm granted the contract failed to fulfill the criteria during the due-diligence process carried out by Punjab government,” he added.
Source: Tribune News
Dr GHULAM SARWAR ASHRAF 