Punjab govt working on alternative power generation: CM

[Naveed Yaseen]

CHIEF Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said the Punjab government is working on alternative sources of power generation and investors are being fully encouraged for this purpose.

He said that there were large reserves of high grade coal in the province and special attention was being paid to generation of energy from coal. He said the Punjab Coal Mining Company had also been set up in this regard. He said that all projects of power generation with coal would be completed expeditiously and transparently.

He was talking to foreign investors with regard to cooperation in coal projects, here on Thursday. Punjab additional chief secretary, Mines secretary, PEPCO managing director, Punjab Investment Board vice chairman, experts and officers concerned were present. Talking to the foreign investors, the chief minister said that Punjab had coal reserves of about 235 million metric tonnes and plants could be set up for generation of energy from coal. He said the Punjab government would set up projects of generation of power from coal in Dera Ghazi Khan and Chakwal. He said coal would be acquired for DG Khan project from Balochistan while there were coal reserves in Chakwal. He said that the project of setting up four plants in different industrial estates had been finalised while approval has been granted for pilot project of 50MW coal gassification at a cost of Rs.980 million. He directed setting up of a five-member special team to negotiate with foreign investors interested in coal gassification projects. He assured that Punjab government would extend all-out facilities to investors and complete transparency would be ensured in the projects. The foreign investors informed the CM that they wanted to invest in Punjab and a technical team would visit Punjab next week to inspect the sites of the project.

Earlier, the Mine secretary informed the meeting about the coal reserves, the Punjab Coal Mining Company and various projects of power generation with coal.

TURKISH ENVOY CALLS ON CM: Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Babur Hizlan called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday

Matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation in various sectors were discussed at the meeting. Honorary Consul General of Turkey Mian Tajammal Hussain, Col (Retd) Shujja Khanzada, Punjab Home secretary and Capital City Police Officer, Lahore, were also present.

Talking to the Turkish ambassador, the CM said that Turkey was a brotherly Islamic country of Pakistan and both countries were bound in strong ties of friendship.

He said that cooperation in trade and economic sectors between Turkey and Pakistan was the need of the hour for cementing bilateral relations. He said that Turkey made progress in different sectors and Punjab government waned to benefit from expertise. He said that there was a wide scope of cooperation in different sectors in Punjab. He said the Punjab government was working on alternative sources of power generation. He said that Taunsa Barrage Hydel Project was being implemented which would generate 120 megawatt energy. He said that Turkey had technical expertise in hydel power projects and it could extend assistance in setting up such projects at different places in Punjab. Thanking Turkish ambassador for his offer of training of police, the chief minister said the Punjab government was giving top priority to maintenance of law and order and training on modern lines was being imparted to police force for this purpose. He said that besides training of Elite Force on modern lines, it was also being equipped with the latest weapons. He said that a committee had also been set up for this purpose under Col (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada. He directed Col (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada to hold detailed talks with officers concerned in Turkish Embassy for police training and requirement in this regard.

The CM said common culture and values were also a reason for strong relations between Pakistan and Turkey which were strengthening with the passage of time. He said that a joint business conference of Pakistan and Turkey would be arranged for promotion of trade and economic relations. He said Punjab government would host the conference. He said that Turkish Prime Minister was coming on a visit to Pakistan and Punjab government would be glad to have the honour to play host to him in Lahore. He thanked Turkish Ambassador for inviting to visit Ankara.

Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Babur Hizlan said that there were strong historical and cultural relations between Turkey and Pakistan and the people of both countries had deep love for each other. He said that Turkey was interested in cooperation in different sectors in Punjab and bilateral cooperation would be promoted.

JUDICIOUS UTILISATION OF FUNDS BEING ENSURED: Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that judicious utilisation of funds is being ensured for the rapid development of the province and welfare of the masses.

In addition to improving efficiency of institutions, a comprehensive strategy has been adopted for rooting out corruption so that every penny of public money could be utilised for the betterment of the people, said the CM while addressing a meeting of Advisory Council at Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Advisory Council Secretary Haroon Khawaja, Planning and Development chairman, secretaries of Finance, Education, Health and Social Welfare Departments were also present. The CM said that billions of rupees were being spent on the development of education, health, infrastructure and other sectors and special attention was being paid to the generation of additional resources for mega projects and provision of basic amenities to the citizens. He said that an advisory council comprising experts in different sectors had also been constituted which was giving new ideas for the development of various sectors and was working as a team with provincial departments. He said that the setting up of advisory council would leave a positive impact on development process.

The meeting which lasted more than three hours discussed in detail matters regarding development of various sectors, generation of resources for mega projects and other issues. The chief minister said that Punjab was rich in natural resources and there was a need for their exploitation for the prosperity of the province. He said that provincial economy could be strengthened through promotion of industries, livestock, agriculture and agro-based industries, hence the government was concentrating on the development of these sectors. He said mega projects of infrastructure development were also being executed expeditiously for the progress of the province. He said that vocational education was of vital importance for the promotion of economic activities in the province and the TEVTA had been fully activated for this purpose. He said that syllabus of vocational institutions had been harmonised with the demands of modern age and a skilled workforce was being developed in accordance with the market needs. He said the TEVTA had been given the target of training 0.5 million workers annually.

The CM said strategy adopted for rooting out corruption from the province had yielded positive results and third-party audit system had been made compulsory for quality completion of development projects in a transparent manner. He said that there was no paucity of resources but lack of sense of responsibility. He said destiny of people could be changed through commitment, hard work and dedication. He said that provincial secretaries could not spare enough time for new ideas and evolving policies for the fast development of the province due to their official engagements, therefore, the advisory council had been formed which was working as a team with provincial secretaries for this purpose. He said that he was thankful to the advisory council which was rendering its services on honourary basis and submitting invaluable proposals regarding uplift projects and strengthening of development process. He said that there was a need for development of resources for moving ahead and the proposals and suggestions of the advisory council would prove to be useful with regard to development of various sectors and generation of resources for development projects. The chief minister directed the Planning and Development chairman to arrange a separate meeting of the advisory council with secretaries of various departments within next few days for evolving an effective strategy with mutual consultation for improving efficiency of various departments through optimum utilisation of resources in the interest of rapid progress and development of the province.

Earlier, the Planning and Development chairman and secretaries of various departments said that the proposals and policies put forth by the advisory council would be implemented and measures would be taken for the prosperity of the province. Advisory Council Secretary Haroon Khawaja said that committees had been constituted for the uplift of education, health and other sectors which were working on generation of resources for development projects.

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