LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday inaugurated the newly established Head Marala Hydropower Project in Sialkot. According to the Irrigation Department, the hydro power project had been established at Upper Chenab Canal (UCC) near Head Marala Barrage with a total cost of Rs 3.98 billion under the supervision of Chinese engineers. It has the total capacity of producing 7.64MW with four turbines of 1.9 megawatts capacity each, which were made functional after their successful tests. This plant was linked with the national grid, which would annually generate 50.3 million units electricity. After the inauguration, the chief minister inspected the central control room and monitored power generation process there. Addressing a ceremony, the chief minister said that inauguration of first hydropower plant under the PTI government was a matter of satisfaction. He said that the electricity produced from the project would be provided to Punjab and other parts of the country. Talking to the media after the inauguration, the chief minister said that government was following a composite strategy to help solve problems relating to the masses. Usman Buzdar reiterated that he would visit every division and district of the province to serve the masses. He said that repair and maintenance of Head Marala Road and Pasrur Road would be completed soon. The Chief Minister also announced to grant the status of special economic zone to the proposed industrial zone to be established along Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. Provincial Energy Minister Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik said that the government would overcome the energy crisis according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He lamented that projects containing kickbacks were taking care of in the previous tenure and added that delay in the completion of Head Marala Hydropower project was the result of criminal negligence. PTI leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PTI central Punjab President Usman Dar, provincial ministers, assembly members and notables of the areas attended the ceremony in large numbers. Published in Daily Times, November 6th 2018.