Punjab Working on Hydel, Coal Power Generation Projects: Shahbaz Sharif

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 10:33 am under Pakistan News

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis and the government is taking measures to solve this problem.

He expressed these views while addressing a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday to review the Punjab Power Generation Policy, 2006. He said the Punjab government was working on a number of projects, including electricity generation from hydel power and coal.

He added that negotiations were being held with China in this regard while the Independent Power Producer Forum had also visited the Punjab and expressed keen interest in investing in the energy sector.

Shahbaz said that at present, Pakistan was facing a power deficit of more than 4,500 MW and there was a dire need for investing in the energy sector in the interest of the agriculture and industrial sectors.

He said power shortage was also affecting exports besides leaving a negative impact on various sectors.He said that though heavy borrowing was made in the past but instead of using this money on public welfare and power-generation projects, it was wasted on luxurious living, which was a great disservice to the nation.

He said that efforts had been made for capacity-building and activating the Punjab Power Development Board. Experts have also been included in the exercise, he added.Shahbaz lauded the services of the Punjab senior minister for comprehensive amendments in the Punjab Power General Policy.

He added that the amendments were being sent to the Punjab cabinet for approval.Earlier, the irrigation secretary briefed the meeting on amendments in the Punjab Power General Policy, 2006.

He said a special committee had been set up under the chairmanship of Raja Riaz. The committee had given a final shape to these amendments after detailed deliberations, he added.Shahbaz said the Punjab Power Development Company Limited, headed by Nadeem Babar, had also been constituted which would undertake various power-generation projects in the province.

He directed the committee, set up under the chairmanship of Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa regarding the PIDA, to submit its recommendations as soon as possible.The planning and development chairman, secretaries of finance, mines, irrigation and power and others were also present on the occasion.