LAHORE - All the industrial areas in the province will have to initiate self generation projects as about 3,200 tons of wood is being burnt on daily basis only in one industrial area of the provincial capital to keep the industrial wheel on the run in absence of gas and electricity and if the energy shortage is not fulfilled, the country could fall prey to climatic disorder, as the annual figure mounts over to 11,52000 ton just in single area.
The Lahore Township Industries Association demanded of the Punjab government to establish a coal-fired power generation plant at Lahore Township Industrial area on Private-Public Partnership basis. The LTIA Chairman Zaheer Bhutta said that the Punjab government should consider the Lahore Township Industrial Area for two reasons including availability of around hundred kanals of government land and secondly a rail track also passes through the industrial area.
He said that it was a happy sign that the industrialists of the LTIA have shown their strong will to supplement government efforts aimed at mitigating the shortage of electricity. The demand was raised by him during a meeting with the LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari along with an eight-member delegation.On the issue of Water Treatment Plant in the Industrial area in the wake of GSP Plus status to Pakistan, the LCCI President Sohail Lashari urged the LTIA Chairman to finalise a proposal to enable the chamber to submit it to the concerned government quarters for its early execution.
He, on the occasion, informed the delegation that the this body was also striving to establish an eight mega watt low-head hydel power project on its own for which the study is near completion. He said that he had already convened an Emergent General Meeting to get approval and support of all the 18000 members for the said power generation project that would be first of its kind by any of the chambers of commerce in the country.
 He suggested to the LTIA office-bearers and the Executive Committee members to constitute to separate committees over coal-fired power project and Water Treatment plant and the research department of chamber would extend every possible cooperation for the preparation of feasibilities.
He said that it was the duty of the government to facilitate the private sector for being backbone of the economy. He said that all the government departments should strengthen consultation with the stakeholders on upcoming infrastructure and economy-related issues.