PM inaugurates CPEC coal power plant at Port Qasim

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated a coal power plant under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Port Qasim on Wednesday.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony, the premier said the foundation for the power plant project at Port Qasim was laid in 2015 and it is the first to be completed under CPEC. 

The premier added the coal power plant project is favourable for the environment.

According to Abbasi, earlier they were informed the project would not reach a successful conclusion. 

About CPEC, Abbasi said it will also increase job opportunities along with benefiting the economy. 

The officials concerned said first unit of the power plant will provide 660 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.  

The prime minister will also chair a high-level meeting in Karachi to discuss the law and order situation in the metropolis.

Earlier this week, on Monday, Abbasi met King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz during his visit to Saudi Arabia, where the two dignitaries discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar.

PM Abbasi lauded the efforts of the Saudi leadership in bringing peace and stability to the region and assured the Saudi King of Pakistan’s full support in this regard.

On the occasion, King Salman praised the excellent relations that exist between the two sides and efforts of Pakistan in rooting out the menace of terrorism and extremism from its soil.