PM inaugurates 200 MW power plant

[LahoreEstate]

Sunday, November 08, 2009
PATTOKI: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday said increased energy production in the country was a high priority on the government’s agenda and measures were afoot to exploit all available natural resources for this purpose.

Launching the $234 million 200MW Nishat power project here, he said it was the third such project in the fast-track category and said the government was working to meet the current shortfall of 3,500MW.

The prime minister said the government of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto faced similar challenges of electricity shortfall of around 2,000MW in 1993. During that period, the power policy of 1994 was chalked out and the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) was set up to act as a one-window facility. He said it proved to be a success story and Rs3 billion were invested that led to the production of 3,000MW. He stressed the role of the private sector in power generation and said it could play a vital role in increasing pow3er production in the country.

Gilani however pointed that peaceful political environment was a must for economy.

“We believe in private sector resource mobilisation as was evident in the 1994 power policy and the successive policies revolving around it.” He said the government was pursuing policies to attract foreign investment and providing an investor-friendly environment. He said the PPIB, PEPCO, NEPRA and others were working with cohesion to help increase power production in the country.

Gilani congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for promoting power generation in the province. He noted the ambitious plans of Shahbaz Sharif for adding new electricity projects in the province, by exploring hydropower ventures. He said the government would allocate more funds for hydropower projects.

The prime minister noted the credible track record of the Nishat group in various projects and said it proved that Pakistan was an attractive place for investment.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=207281