Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated two coal-fired power plants with a capacity of 1,650 megawatt of electricity in Tharparkar on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony at the Islamkot area of Thar, the Prime Minister said that the projects would turn the desert into an economic hub.

He dismissed the criticism by a section of people against Thar's coal, terming it a blessing with immense potential for power resources that need to be untapped.

The projects including the 1,320 megawatt Shanghai Electric power plant and 330 MW Thal Nova power plant will annually generate 11.24 billion units of low-cost electricity.

Through the direct investment of over 3 billion dollars into these projects, the production of coal-based electricity in Thar will increase up to 3,300 MW.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that the journey of progress would spread across the country and would strengthen the national economy.

He said by the power turbines would be installed at the projects by 30th of next month to generate electricity, which would be supplied to the rest of the country through transmission lines.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the government of China for extending support to Pakistan in carrying out development projects under the CPEC.

He vowed that the coalition government will put in all efforts to materialize the CPEC projects, with the agriculture sector as its next phase.

The Prime Minister said no one is above the law and would not be allowed to support terrorists and use them as shields.

Addressing the ceremony, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed satisfaction over the level of cooperation between Pakistan and China on carrying out development projects.

Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir said the government is committed to providing civic amenities to the people across the country.

He said under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the development of indigenous resources is a big step towards self-reliance.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the political and economic interests of Pakistan and China are aligned for the benefit of the two nations.

Chinese Charge d'Affaires Pang Chunxue said the commercial operation of the Thar coal project ranks high among other coal-fired power plants.

She assured all possible cooperation by the government of China in the field of development and progress.