lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over an important briefing meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday regarding energy projects. The meeting decided to set up three gas based power projects of 3600MW by the federal and Punjab governments.
These projects will be set up in Bikhi, Sheikhupura, Baloki, Kasur and Haweli Bahadur Shah at Jhang. Federal government will provide funds for two projects of 2400MW while Punjab government will provide sources for one project of 1200MW. Ambassadors of China, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Greece besides commercial consulers of Canada, South Korea and Japan were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that serious efforts are being made for resolving energy crisis. He said that government is working on priority basis for coping with the problem of shortage of electricity, revival of economy and elimination of terrorism. He said that power projects will be completed by 2017 for ridding the people of load shedding and supply of electricity to agriculture and industrial sector. He said that work is also in progress on coal, solar, hydle and other projects. He said that investment by friendly countries in energy projects will be welcomed. Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that a meeting will be held in Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi where a briefing will be given to international companies and firms regarding gas based energy projects. Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Water and Power Kh. Muhammad Asif, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatimi, Additional Secretary to Prime Minister, Federal Secretary Water and Power and concerned authorities were present on the occasion. Ambassador of China to Pakistan Sun Weidong, Ambassador of Turkey Sadik Babur Girgin, Ambassador of Italy Adriano Chiodi Cianfarani, Ambassador of Spain Javir M. Carbajosa and Ambassador of Greece Dimitrios Zoltas also attended the meeting.