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Strategy eveolved to generate maximum power: Asif
Minister says power generation from Thar coal reserves will be started in 2017, which will end loadshedding
APP
SIALKOT - Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on Sunday said that a strategy had been evolved for generating maximum power to cope with future requirements of Pakistan.
The government was determined to end loadshedding, he said, adding the ministry was also working to streamline and strengthen the power distribution system. Talking to APP, he said that several long and short term power projects were being initiated in Pakistan. He said that power generation from Thar coal reserves would be started in 2017, which would end loadshedding. After completing the Thar project, it would become an energy capital of Pakistan.
To a question, the minister said that China would help Pakistan in the energy sector. During the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China, a number of agreements of power sector and railway were signed. He said that a special team would visit China to find out ways and means for the implementation of projects, while the government would constitute a special task force to monitor pace of development on power projects.
To another question, he said that steps were being made for the installation of gas conversion equipment on gas turbines of Nandipur power project while the initial work on the project had already been initiated. He said that the duration of loadshedding had been reduced as compared to the previous year, adding provision of electricity to the industrial sector was top on agenda of the government.
“We are making adequate efforts to develop cordial relations with all neighbouring counties, including Russia, on basis of equal footings for permanent peace in the region,” he said. The minister said that difference of opinion was a symbol and beauty of democracy, while differences of opinion always helped in strengthening democracy.
The minister said that it was very unfortunate that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leadership was trying to destroy economic stability of Pakistan, adding Pakistan was facing huge economic loss and threats to national economy due to the sit-ins, but the both parties were not perceiving gravity of the situation, he said.
He said that goals of democracy were to ensure dignity and fundamental rights of individuals, provision of justice and socio-economic uplift of Pakistan, and the government was working on it, he said. He said that protection of the constitution, parliament and democracy was top on agenda and all political parties were united to protect them.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk