ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the government’s decision to provide solar panels to the consumers in Gwadar.

“These solar panels will be a gift for the people of Gwadar from the federal government. The government will leave no stone unturned to facilitate the people of Gwadar,” he said while presiding over a meeting here in Islamabad on Friday, to review the progress on projects of power transmission lines in Balochistan.

The premier directed the officials to devise a strategy for offshore and onshore wind power projects in the port city, which is one of the main centres of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. “Uninterrupted power supply will be ensured to make Gawadar port the most modern port in the world.”

PM Shehbaz also directed the officials to expedite and complete work on transmission lines in South Balochistan by December this year. “No negligence will be tolerated in the delay of power projects,” he said and directed the departments relevant to ensure that time and cost were reduced as much as possible in long-term projects.

The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Minister Engr Khurram Dastgir and senior officials, who were given a detailed briefing on the construction of power transmission lines between Jeewani, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Panjgur and Iran.

Officials told the huddle that within six months, the government would be able to supply an additional 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran to Gwadar, increasing the total supply to 260MW.

They added that 90MW more electricity will be provided to the area after the completion of the Khuzdar-Panjgur transmission line in December this year. Officials also briefed the team about the Hub-Ormara transmission line that would further add 200MW electricity after its completion.