PM Shehbaz greenlights major projects to secure stable, sustainable power for Gwadar, GB

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved on Monday the immediate implementation of a comprehensive plan, including a 100 MW solar project to ensure uninterrupted, affordable, and sustainable power supply.

The PM decided while reviewing a meeting on ongoing reforms in the power sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release

“All relevant institutions must work in full coordination on the projects to ensure uninterrupted, reasonably priced, and reliable electricity supply to Gwadar Port City,” the PM directed.

Issuing special directions for the immediate initiation of the 100-megawatt solar project in GB, the prime minister said, “The welfare and economic development of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan is among the top priorities of the federal government.”

He also directed that the project must ensure uninterrupted and sustainable provision of clean and environmentally friendly electricity.

Moreover, the PM said that the recommendations and actions of the committee headed by Ahsan Iqbal, as well as the Ministry of Energy, to address electricity issues are commendable.

He instructed the Ministry of Energy to ensure effective implementation of the immediate, short-term, and long-term projects included in the comprehensive strategy prepared.

“Uninterrupted electricity supply in Gwadar will certainly stimulate national economic activity and attract investment.

Electricity supply for industries and investors in Pakistan must meet regional and international standards,” the premier stated.

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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 stabilize 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 8 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.