ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) claimed to have garnered the support of enough membe
rs to install its own people on top slots in the Uppe
r House, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also claimed on Saturday that it has majority votes in hand to win election for the Senate c
hairman and deputy c
hairman.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a consultative meeting of the heads of PML-N’s political allies in Islamabad to exchange views on the nominees for the offices of Senate c
hairman and deputy c
hairman.
Speaking to media after the meeting, PML-N leader Mushahid Ullah Khan said the ruling party has achieved majority votes to clinch the top positions in Senate. “PML-N is now in a position to bring its c
hairman and deputy c
hairman with the help of its allies. The names of the candidates will, however, be unveiled on Sunday (today),” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the 1410 MW Tarbela 4th extension hydropower project.
First unit of 470 MW was commissioned, while two more units each with equal power generating capacity will be online before the advent of summer this year.
The T-4 project will play a pivotal role in balancing energy mix of the country and stabilizing prices of electricity for a long span in future with an attractive economic rate of return of more than 30% and annual cost sale of $300 million to the national exchequer.
Tarbela Dam is located on the Indus River about 100 km northwest of Islamabad. The T-4 project is located within premises of existing Tarbela Dam Project. Tarbela Dam Project, completed in 1976, has provision of 5 tun
nels, 4 on Left Bank and 01 on Right Bank. Tunnels 1-3 have installed capacity of 3,478 MW with average annual energy generation of 15-16 billion units. The T-4 project will generate 3.84 billion units annually, equivalent of burning of 1 million ton of furnace oil. Newly installed units of T-4 project are more efficient and it is expected to have 10 -15% more energy through these units.
Published in Daily Times, March 11th 2018.
