- The Prime Minister briefed on federal government projects during a one-day visit.
- Government is working to include KCR in CPEC priority project, PM tells CM
- The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister discuss the issue of rising cost of electricity.
During his one-day visit to Karachi, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday agreed to expedite the timely completion of federally funded development projects in the province.
The development comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is on a one-day visit to Karachi, met the Sindh Chief Minister and held a discussion on different projects that the federal government has initiated in the province, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister House on Friday.
CM Murad told the PM that the provincial government, with the help of donor agencies, has started work on the Redline and Yellow Line BRT projects.
“The work on the Red Line project was in full swing while the work on the Yellow Line would begin shortly,” the CM said, adding that the solution to the traffic problems in Karachi would be resolved when the Karachi Circular Railway project would commence.
The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister that his government was working closely with the Chinese authorities to include KCR in the priority project of CPEC. He added that KCR was important and would be initiated with Chinese assistance very soon.
They also discussed the issue of the rising cost of electricity which has created unrest among the country's population, the statement said.
After an exhaustive discussion, both leaders agreed to convert all coal-fired power projects to Thar coal so that the cost of production can be minimized.
The prime minister said his government was working to provide relief to the people of the country.
He added that indigenous sources of energy production such as coal and renewable energy would be cheaper to provide relief to the country's population.
CM Murad told the prime minister that his government would distribute 200,000 solar home systems (SHS) among poor people who live off-grid or use a maximum of 100 units per month so that they can get relief from electricity bills.
The K-IV project was also discussed at the meeting between the two senior officials.
The CM said the work on the K-IV canal and pipeline was being carried out by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), while the widening works were the responsibility of his government.
The Prime Minister said that he would direct the Wapda to expedite the works on the canal and related structures. The Chief Minister said that his government was going to initiate the widening works so that both the works could be completed in full.
CM Murad told the PM that his government had initiated the Hub Canal project under which the existing canal was being renovated along with the construction of a new canal so that 200 MGD of water could be brought to the city of Karachi for the people of West, Kiamari and Central districts. The PM appreciated the project.
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister also discussed the project of laying a 105-kilometre railway line from Thar coalfield to Chhor so that coal can be transported upcountry for coal-fired power plants and other industrial units.
They agreed to expedite the project's procedures.
